by Tom Aherne

The following are the lottery results from The Thatch Bar Newbridge on Monday 16th April. The numbers drawn were 3,13,21,22, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows.
€60 Tom +Mary Mullins, Ardagh.
€60 Eileen Parker, c/o Curley; s Ardagh.
€60 Pat Ryan,  c/o Bus Eireann.
€30 Patrick Mullins, Ardagh.
€30 Anthony Fitzsimons,  Shanagolden.
€30 Jerry Molyneaux, Rathkeale.
Next week’s draw will be held in Neary’s Bar, Ardagh, and the Jackpot will be €16,600.
The Limerick G.A.A.Club Draw, for April took place in The Villager Bar,
Castlemahon on Friday 13th April. Congratulations to Donie Collins
from the Saint Kieran’s Club who won the 18th Prize of €250. Next month’s Draw will be held in Fitzgerald’s Bar Kilmallock.
Congratulations to Michael O’Sullivan, and Joe Devine, who were prize winners at the Flag Floor card game held on Wednesday 11th April. Card game each Wednesday night at 9pm and all are welcome.
Congratulations to Jim Dalton, +Francis Woulfe, and Donie Donovan, + James Bridgeman, who were prize winners at the card game held in Shanagolden Hall on Friday 13th April.
Carrig Celtic defeated Glantine 2-1 at home in Division 1 of the Desmond League on Sunday 15th April. John Doyle and Francis Moore scored the goals which keep the team in contention for promotion with only two more games to play. Old Mill had no game and remains just above the relegation places.
Kilcolman Rovers defeated Feenagh 3-1 away in Division 2 but they remain favourites for relegation to Division 3. Conor Whelan, Chris Neville and Ronan Kelliher scored their goals.
Carrig Celtic B has one more game to play at home against Ferry Rangers in Division 3. They will be presented with the cup for winning the Division on the day.
Saint Kieran’s defeated Croagh/Kilfinny by 4-16 to 0-6 in Round 1 of the County Junior Hurling League at Coolcappa Gaelic Grounds, on Tuesday 10th April.
Saint Kieran’s lost to Feohanagh by 0-9 to 0-8 in Round 1 of the West Junior B Hurling League also at Coolcappa on Friday 13th April.
Saint Kieran’s lost to Ballylanders by 4-19 to 0-1 in Round 3 of the County Football League, in Ballylanders on Sunday 15th April.
Darragh Treacy and Jim O’Donovan, were members of the Limerick senior
football team that defeated Carlow by 0-19 to 1-9 in the final Round of the National Division 4 Football League, at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick on Sunday 15th April. Darragh played very well at centre field and scored three points, and Jim was introduced as a second half
substitute following a long layoff due to injury.
Kevin Meade lined out at corner back for Limerick minor footballers, in their 3-13 to 0-6 defeat to Cork in Round 1 of the Munster Championship at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick on Saturday 14th April.
Saint Kieran’s play Galbally in Round 1 of the County Senior Football
Championship in Ballyagran on this coming Saturday 28th April at 7pm.
Rural Bus recently celebrated ten years serving the people of West Limerick. It is a community based company which operates the Rural TransportProgramme in County Limerick and North Cork. It provides transport to people living in rural areas that have limited access to
transport services. John Joe Kennelly the Cross Ardagh played a major role in putting the local service into operation, ten years ago and he deserves big thanks from all users who now enjoy the fruits of his labour. One of the very first trips made by Rural Bus was on 31st
January 2002 when the people from Ardagh, Glensharrold and Carrigkerry
were picked up at their own homes and taken into Newcastle West for a few hours of enjoyment. People are free to do what they please during this time, which is eagerly looked forward to by all users of the service. It may be the only social outlet for many that week and it offers people independence  and renewal  of friendship and an opportunity to do their business  as well. We hope it continues to operate its service into the future, despite the threat of cutbacks.
Tom Nestor the Coolcappa born author has donated his papers to the University of Limerick. The material is contained in 110 files and covers the years from 1964 to 2012. He has produced a vast amount of writing in that space of time, which is now together and in safe keeping  for future reference. He continues to write and is a regular contributor to Ireland’s Own Magazine at present, with lovely articles from his past memories. He now lives in Birr County Offaly and we wish
him continued success, and good health and thank him for putting Coolcappa under the spotlight.
The Loughill/Ballyhahill Parish Annual 2012 is currently on sale at Stevo’s Daybreak Carrigkerry and other local shops in the area. It contains 100 pages of very interesting material about the parish from the past year and beyond. It has club reports, emigration stories;
people’s memories of Television, over the past 50 years are recalled. People who have passed on are remembered with fondness and the schoolchildren feature prominently as well. Young contributors are to the fore with nice interviews, book launches, award winners feature and the Irish language is not forgotten either.  It is a fine publication, with items of interest for young and old and it costs €10.

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
A final reminder  to people to return their Trocaire  Boxes to the local Churches, so that the final amount can be sent on to the Diocesan Office, for forwarding to the poor in Uganda. Please be as generous as possible with your donations.
People are looking forward to the annual Eigse Michael Hartnett, which takes place in Newcastle West, from Thursday 26th to Saturday 28th April. A big attraction will be President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, who will deliver the formal address on opening night this
Thursday at The Courtney Lodge Hotel. A very interesting programme has
been put in place which should attract all followers of the written word.
Kilcolman Rovers ladies will hold their awards night in Neary’s Bar Ardagh on Saturday 28th April from 9.30pm.  They will celebrate their Desmond Cup success this year, and present the medals and other awards and a great night is anticipated.
A fundraiser in aid of Milford Hospice Limerick will be held in Kilcolman Community Creche, on Sunday 29th April from 12 noon to 6pm. There will be face painting bouncy castles, bungee run, a bake sale and lots more. Contributions to the bake sale would be much appreciated. All ages are welcome, and a great day is guaranteed for all the family.
O’Brien Press are launching a series of 16 books in the coming months and years, documenting the lives of the 16 men who were executed for their part in the Easter Rising of 1916. At present 3 of the books are on sale James Connolly Joseph Plunkett, and Michael Mallin. The book of most interest to us will be the autobiography of Con Colbert, who
was one of the 16 who gave his life for Irish freedom. Con has connections in Castlemahon, Kilcolman and Athea and the book will be looked forward to by many in the West Limerick area.
Thanks to Airtricity Community Funding Carrigkerry Community Centre has been enhanced by the fitting of Insulation to its cavity walls and attic areas in the past week.  The contractors installed warmfill silver bonded bead to the cavity walls, excluding the gable points and original stone wall build in 1876. They also fitted 150mm fiberglass in the attic and insulated the trap doors. The work was carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday 17th /18th April. This latest upgrade should make the Community Centre more comfortable for all users in the future.
Enrolment is now taking place for Carrigkerry National School. The forms are available in the school. Please call or phone the principal. 069 76229.
Please join us for the joyful celebration of the Eucharistic and Benediction in preparation for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 at the G.A.A. Grounds, Newcastle West on Sunday, April 29th at 2.30pm. All are welcome. We would love if singers would join us in the choir for the Mass. There will be a choir practice on Thursday, April 26th at 8.00pm in Newcastle West Church for all those interested.
Mass for the late Fr Dermot Healy will take place in Saint Mary’s Church, Carrigkerry on this Friday 27th April at 7.30pm.