by Tom Aherne

The death has taken place of Maurice, (Moss) Carroll Kerrikyle,Ardagh, at Killeline Nursing Home Newcastle West, on Monday 27th February.  He was the youngest of six, and had three brothers and two sisters. Moss was a batchelor, and a retired farmer, and the last
member of the family to reside there until he moved to Killeline. Moss farmed in the old style, and worked hard all his long life. He was the keeper of the land and he minded his animals with great care. Moss was always to be seen out and about, on his bicycle doing various tasks at home and in his land a distance away. He lived close to nature and was a dog lover who always had his canine friend close at
hand. Moss was a regular Church attender until old age caught up with him. He attended both Kilcolman and Ardagh Churches and he will be sadly missed by his neighbours and friends.
His remains were removed from Reidy’s Funeral Home, Newcastle West, to
Saint Colman’s Church Kilcolman on Wednesday evening last.  Fr Denis
Mullane, PP Coolcappa/Kilcolman, assisted by Father Larry Madden PP
Ardagh/Carrigkerry concelebrated his Funeral Mass, on Thursday morning
at 11a.m. His relations assisted in the Mass Readings, Prayers of the Faithful, Gifts and Reflection and Maura supplied the Hymns. Burial took place in the family plot in Ardagh Cemetery on 1st March. Sympathy to his nephews, James (Templeglantine) Moss (Duagh) other relatives, (Sheahan family who were very good to Moss over the years) neighbours and friends. May he rest in Peace.
We extend sympathy to Eleanor, and Anthony Fitzsimons and family Ballyneety, on the death of Eleanor’s brother Jim Fenn, The Fairways,
Monaleen, Castletroy, Limerick and late of Charleville, Cork. His remains were removed from Milford Care Centre, on Thursday 23rd February to Saint Mary Magdalene Church Monaleen, and Cremation took place in the Island Crematorium, Cork, following Requiem Mass on Friday 24th February. Sympathy also to his wife Jacinta, daughter Michelle, sons James, Jonathan and Connor and extended family members and friends. May he rest in Peace.
We extend sympathy to Mary (Stephen) O’Connor and family Glensharrold,
Carrigkerry on the death of her sister Johanna Doody of Ballaugh, Ashford at Beechwood Nursing Home, Newcastle West. Sympathy also to her sons John, and Jerry, daughter Mary-Ita, sister
Bridie (England), grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family members, neighbours and friends. She was laid to rest in the Old Cemetery Templeglantine on Saturday last 3rd March. May she rest in Peace.
We note the passing of Frank Carson, Hal Roche, Dave Jones, and Quentin Doran-O’Reilly who were household names and gave great service to their professions in life. Frank and Hal were top class comedians and Dave a member of The Monkeys band who had their own
show on Television in the sixties and seventies. Quentin was a journalist who wrote about the horse industry in The Farmers Journal for close on 50 years. They will be missed but they left a lot of
lovely memories for people to remember them.
Carrigkerry Community Centre has been successful in their application to Dromada Community Fund 2012 which is run by Airtricity and has awarded numerous funding for community based projects over the past number of years. A total of € 2,600 has been awarded towards the cost of insulating the centre. The award presentation will take place in
the Con Colbert Community Hall in Athea on Wednesday 7th March at
8pm. This is great news for the centre and the money will go towards
insulating the outside walls of the extension and the attic. The Centre is a stone wall building without insulation which was erected in 1876 and it is very hard to heat. Congratulations to Pat King who did the background work needed to secure the grant funding. Thanks to
Airtricity for their award and for giving back something to local communities in return for the wind generated at their Dromada Wind Farm.
A group of seven from the Ardagh area joined ten others to record two
programmes for Round the Fireside in Freemount Heritage Centre, on
Tuesday 28th February. The occasion was to honour the music of the
Glenside Band from Ardagh, and the music career of Tom O’Donoghue  from Castlemahon. It was a most enjoyable experience  for all who participated and the end result is two programmes that will be broadcast on C 103 FM Radio. Presenter Jimmie Reidy and his team had a great welcome for all and they were all very impressed with the talented group from West Limerick. The local members were John Mullins, Tom Mullins, Peter Mullins, Liam Steele, Paul O’Connor, Paul Moriarty and Tom Aherne. The two programmes are due to be broadcast on Monday 26th March, and Monday 2nd April from 9.50pm to 11p.m. and
are well worth a listen in to.
A number of people from the locality travelled to Dublin on Wednesday last 29th February to join in the citizens against charges march to the Dáil to protest against all the charges being brought in by the Government at present.   We were well represented by the people that travelled and marched to the Dail to highlight what is happening in
rural Ireland.  We hope all the protests will have a positive impact on a Government afraid to tackle the real reasons we are in this mess.
The following are the lottery results from Neary’s Bar Ardagh, on Monday 27th February. The numbers drawn were 6,12,20,25, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners.
€60 Moira, Patsy and Jim, Ardagh.
€60 Mary Teskey,  Reens Pike Ardagh.
€60 Patrick Mullins,  Ardagh.
€30 Eleanor Fitzsimons , Ballyneety.
€30 William, Adam, and Joseph, Ardagh.
€30 Patsy Kelly, Ardagh.
Next week’s draw takes place in the Old Mill Bar, and the Jackpot will be €15,200.
Congratulations to the following prize winners in the first Carrig Celtic 300 Club Draw held at Moore’s Bar Carrigkerry on Sunday 26th February. Nora Barrett won the one of €200 shopping voucher for Stevo’s Shop Carrigkerry.
First Prize €1,000 Jamie Moore, Second Prize €250  Tom Hennessy. Third Prize €50 Marie O’Riordan. Fourth Prize € 0 Donal O’Sullivan. Fifth Prize €50 Robert Ryan.
Congratulations to Martin Flynn and Mike Kearney who were prize winners at The Flag Floor card game held on Wednesday 22nd February.
Congratulations to John Mulvihill and Vinnie Wrenn who were first prize winners at the Card game held in Shanagolden Hall on Friday 24th
February.
It was all cup action in the Desmond League matches played on Sunday
26th February. Kilcolman Rovers lost 5-1 away to Newcastle West Rovers in Round 1 of the Desmond Cup. Carrig Celtic defeated Newcastle West B 4-0 at home  in Round 1 of the Division 1 League Cup with goals from Mark Collins,2 John Doyle and Anthony Molyneaux. Old Mill defeated Adare United 3-0 at home in the quarter final of the same competition, with goals from Brendan Hayes, Padraig Trant, and Paddy Downes.
In ladies soccer Carrig Celtic lost 2-0 at home to Rathkeale in the First Division League.
Johnny McCarthy Saint Kieran’s was full back on the Munster team that lost by 3 points to Ulster in the Railway Cup final played in Crossmaglen Armagh on Sunday 26th February.
The club is collecting tokens from the Irish Independent and the Sunday Independent papers at present, to enable them to get sports equipment kits. They have a target of 250 to collect and they can be given to Catherine Hayes, Deirdre Ambrose or John Curley’s Shop.
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.
Kilcolman NS will hold its annual school dance, in the Shannon House Foynes , on Sunday 11th March from 4pm to7pm.  Music by Maura and Donie, and admission € 5 and all are welcome.
A community information evening will take place in the Hall Shanagolden on Thursday 15th March at 7.30pm.  Representatives from service providers and state agencies will speak and information material will be available on a wide range of topics. The evening is being hosted by Saint Senan’s and District Community Alert and they would appreciate a large attendance.
Fr Terry Loughran PP Cappagh will launch his CD “Storybook” in Rathkeale House Hotel on Sunday 18th March at 8pm. Admission €5 and copies of the CD will be on sale. Proceeds will go to the Lauren McGrath Benefit Fund and a great evening of music and song is promised.
Glin Development Association plans to run a further full-time adult training course at St. Paul’s Heritage Centre in Glin in 2012. The full-time FAS funded FETAC course includes modules in Tourism, Heritage, Web Authoring, Business Administration and Computer Studies and will run for 30 weeks. This Local Training Initiative (LTI) programme will be offered free of charge to all participants. Your local FAS office will provide details of training allowances of up to €188 per week plus other benefits that may available. Phone or text 087 629 6439, email [email protected] or contact a member of Glin Development Association. Supported by West Limerick Resources.
Participants are sought for the 2012 Kilmeedy Horticulture Local Training Initiative which  will commence on April 10th. The fully accredited 48 week FETAC level 5 course will run until March 8th 2013 and there are 20 Learner places available. Those interested in learning more should register with your local FAS office or contact Elaine White course Co-Ordinator on 063-87960 or email [email protected]
To mark the festival community groups in West Limerick will host a series of events between Monday March 26th and Sunday April 1st.  The LLL Festival is organised by the Limerick City of Learning Steering Group as part of its strategy of making Limerick a City of Learning. Along with West Limerick Resources events in Newcastle West, Tournafulla and Patrickswell community groups will be organizing events in Abbeyfeale, Glin and Kilmeedy.  Details to be announced in the coming weeks.