by Tom Aherne

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 following are the Lottery results from Neary’s Bar, Ardagh on Monday 26th March. The numbers drawn were 1,11,20,30, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners.
€60 Sarah O’Brien, Ardagh.
€60 Catherine Reddan,  Shanagolden.
€60 Tom Griffin, Knockane Road, Newcastle West.
€30 Adam Bennett, Carrigkerry.
€30 Angela O’Connell, Ardagh.
€30 Tommy Greaney, Kilreash, Ardagh.
Next week’s draw takes place in Moore’s Bar, Ardagh and the Jackpot will be €16,000.
Congratulations to Mike Barrett, and Mary Aherne O’Connor, who were
prize winners at the Flag Floor Card game on Wednesday 21st March. Next week’s game is in aid of the Ardagh/ Carrigkerry Senior Citizens Fund. The annual Good Friday Card game will take place on Friday 6th April at 9pm.
Congratulations to Arianne Reidy, from Saint Kieran’s Community Games,who won the gold medal in the County U-14 Solo Irish Dance, in Askeaton Hall on Friday 23rd March. She danced The King of the Fairies in impressive fashion and was a deserving winner of the event. 

Congratulations to the set dancers who won bronze medals in the County U-14 Set Dancing Competition. The members were Erin Hennessy, Katelyn Hayes, Sophie Hennessy, Amy O’Shea, Cian Ward, Edward Fitzgerald, John Hayes, and Darren Ward.
Members of the club enjoyed success in the County Cross Country finals held in Mick Neville Park Rathkeale, on Monday 19th March. Congratulations to Patrick Ambrose, Con Hodgson, Con Enright, and Cillian Hodgson, silver medal winners in the Boys U-9 300 Meters
event. Molly McGrath won a bronze medal in the Girls U-9 300 Meters
event. Róisín Ambrose won a silver medal in the Girls U-13 1,200 Meters event. Well done to all the other competitors who represented the club in the Cross Country Set Dancing and other events.
Congratulations to Kilcolman Rovers ladies who won the Desmond Cup final on Sunday 25th March. They defeated  Abbeyfeale United by 2-1 at
Clounreask,  Askeaton in perfect playing conditions. Emma Guiry and Michelle Casey scored the vital goals on this historic day for the club.

In the mens league Carrig Celtic lost 3-2 away to Shannonside FC in the 3rd Round of the Desmond Cup, with Francis Moore, and Anthony Molyneaux scoring their goals. Carrig Celtic B lost 1-0 at home to Ballingarry B in Division 3 of the Desmond League. Old Mill and Kilcolman Rovers had no fixtures.
Saint Kieran’s defeated Saint Patrick’s by 2-11 to 0-9 in Round 1 of the All County Football League at Coolcappa on Sunday 25thMarch.
Saint Kieran’s defeated Castlemahon by 3-11 to 3-5 in Round 2 of the County Minor Football Championship at Coolcappa on Thursday 22nd March.
Saint Kieran’s drew with Mountcollins 0-12 to 1-9 in Round 1 of the West Junior B Football League at Coolcappa on Monday 26th March.
The next County Limerick Club Draw will be held in The Villager Bar Castlemahon on Friday 13thApril, and the club would welcome new members to join up with them. It costs €10 per month and €90 for the remaining 9 Draws.
Denis O’Keeffe, a native of Kilcolman, Ardagh, and his wife Nora, Ballingarry recently retired as caretakers of the local hall in Ballingarry after years of dedicated service. A tribute night was held to honour the very popular couple, which was an outstanding success. We wish them both good health and much happiness in the future.
People were very pleased with the dry and mild weather we got in March after the very wet winter months. The early spring weather and the ground drying up is a blessing for people living in the high
ground in the western part of the parish. It makes life easier for the people involved in farming and other outdoor work. The turf machine commenced cutting in local bogs to the West after the Saint Patrick’s Day bank holiday Monday which is very early. We could do with a good spell of weather this summer after last year’s washout.
Two local West Limerick singers have C.D.’s on sale at present. ‘’How Great Thou Art’’ is the title of Marion Collins’ C.D. which contains a number of appropriate songs for weddings and funerals. She had a lovely Cassette Tape on sale back in the early nineties, which was most popular and received lots of airplay on the local Radio Stations.
I gave a loan of my copy to a presenter and sadly that was the last I saw of it.  Sharon Buston’s latest song “Back to Connemara” is a follow up to previous numbers including “Suds in the Bucket” and  “A Coalminers Daughter.” Both artists are receiving good airplay on the
Murt Downes Show on West Limerick 102 Radio. It is lovely to see local
artists doing well and releasing songs and continued success to both in the future.
The spring 2012 edition of the Green and White the Limerick G.A.A. Youth Magazine is available from Schools and clubs, at present. It is another fine publication from the award winning team headed by editors, Joe Lyons and Ciarán Crowe. It is full colour and runs to 36
pages, of very interesting articles, and photographs, covering the underage scene throughout the county. It has interviews with John Allen and Colm Cooper, to name but two, and covers the trip of Gavin O’Mahoney and Grame Mulcahy “Playing for Life” trip to Africa. The latest is number 47 and it will be of interest to all Gaelic games
followers.
Sacred Space on West Limerick 102 Radio can be heard each Sunday
morning from 10am to 11am, with a repeat on the following Thursday
night from 10.30pm. John Keily from Ardagh is the presenter, and it is well worth a listen to.
This coming week-end will see the return of the Trocaire boxes after the Lenten Appeal. The households in the parish were asked to take one and to put into it a little money each day or when they had some loose change to contribute. People are under a lot of financial pressure at present but we are so much better off than the poor in third world countries. If every house gave a little it would make such a difference to their lives. Please be as generous as possible, and a small denial by us (doing without something we like) may change the life of another for the better.
The annual 45 card Drive will be held on Good Friday night 6th April in Shanagolden Parish Hall. The game starts at 9.30pm sharp, and
admission is €10. Valuable prizes on offer, teas will be served and all card players are most welcome on the night.
A fundraising card game in aid of the Kilcolman Senior Citizen’s Fund will take place in the Flag Floor, Glensharrold, on Wednesday 11th April
at 9pm. Teas and refreshments will be provided and support will be
appreciated and all are welcome.
April is National Spring Clean month, which is now in its 14th year. It is Ireland’s biggest anti-litter campaign and the majority of communities sign up to get involved. A free clean up kit is provided to all volunteers who register to get involved. People should take pride in their own communities, and do a cleanup of their own area if possible. The old saying cleanliness is next to godliness is still true at present.  Application forms are available from County Council premises, or register online at www.nationalspringclean.org .
Those currently involved with community drama or those interested in getting involved are being invited to take part in a short acting and performance skills training workshop which will take place in Askeaton on Saturday May 12th and 19th from 10am-4.30pm each day.  Supported by West Limerick Resources the training is free of charge and will cover a wide range of acting and on-stage skills.  All levels of experience catered for. To book a place contact Suzanne on 069 79114 or email [email protected].  Open to over 17’s only.