Archive for May, 2012

Pat’s Corner – 16/5/12

by Pat Brosnan

 

Nothing Equals Home Grown

 

When we of an older generation think back to the days of the 1940’s and ‘50’s we remember with a degree of nostalgia the time when everybody living in rural areas whether they were farmers, small holders or one acre cottage residents had one thing in common they all reserved a plot of ground whether it was big or small to grow their own potatoes, cabbage and vegetables of various kinds including turnips, carrots, parsnips, onions, lettuce and so forth. There are some people who now talk about the hard times of the ‘40’s when everybody had to have a ration book to buy most everyday ordinary commodities such as bread, flour, tea, sugar, butter and so forth and no doubt the scarcity of some of these essential household items caused a certain amount of frustration and hardship, but on the other hand those who were living in rural areas had a lot going for them with their own home produce compared to those who lived in the towns and cities. In our own part of North Kerry when we were growing up we had our own turf for fuel, we had our own milk and homemade butter, we grew our own acre of wheat which we had cleaned and crushed into wholemeal flour at the Ryan Mills in Castleisland for 3 pence per stone, and we grew barley for pig feeding which we had crushed at Browne’s Mills, Castleisland for 3 halfpence per stone. So in spite of the fact that many of our generation look back on those days as a time of hardship it was not all bad and the one thing that contributed to making life a little easier and pleasant for rural dwellers was the fact that many grew so much of their own food. And of course most country people killed a pig each year which provided home cured bacon for the family.  Also of course most rural housewives kept fowl of various kinds – hens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl and so forth which all in their own way contributed to the household budget. Please forgive the pun but is there not a great deal of food for thought about the situation in our country now and the time that home frown foods and products made many rural households at least partly self-sufficient.

There are still some people around rural areas who are interested in gardening and growing much of their household requirements and for this we need go no further than my own next door neighbours the Mumbrey family who settled in Knocknagorna 10 years ago after coming here from England.  They have managed to turn a small plot of ground into a rich and productive source of fruit and vegetables. Of course for them like a great many English people working in their gardens is not only a hobby it is also a means of producing a great deal of fresh healthy food for the table as well as saving them the expense of having to buy all these items when they are out shopping.  A native of Athea, Joe Hurley who lives in Waterford and who devotes much of his spare time to working in his garden, was the recipient of a high profile award a couple of years ago from the then President Mary McAleese. Joe’s brother, the late Denis (Sonny) Hurley RIP who lived in the Lower Road, Athea, was also a keen gardener and kept his interest in it up to a short time before he died a few years ago.   Another good friend of mine Con Warren of Newcastle West and formerly from West Cork is also very much into organic gardening and fruit and vegetables of various varieties and is very skilled in this very useful hobby. Con, of course, is also well known in the traditional singing scene and has been County and Munster Champion on different occasions. He has been a member of Athea Comhaltas for many years.  Up to around eight years ago before having a hip replacement we used to sow some potatoes, cabbage, onions, lettuce, turnips and occasionally carrots as well and we got great satisfaction from doing this work as well as having our own garden produce for much of the time each year.  There are some people in Athea parish who still plant their own garden crops and it is good to see that this is still flourishing and that the lovely tradition of people growing their own in many places is still very much alive though by no means in any of the same scale as it was in the past.  However with the introduction of the farmers markets in local towns in recent years it is now possible to get fresh healthy farm products rather than having to buy the processed and often preserved foods in the larger stores.

We hear regularly these days about the growing modern problem of obesity in children and of problems that this can cause in later life particularly in those who take little or no part in sports or physical exercise. Some surveys have unfortunately indicated that anything up to one child in every three throughout the country is overweight. There is little doubt that the food they are eating is a major factor in this trend and the sooner that these children are brought up and taught to eat and appreciate wholesome foods such as home grown garden products the better they will be for it.  In our young days there was little or no obesity among school children. The Billy Bunter’s of those days were very few and far between and the reason for this was they were fed on wholesome food and perhaps not even too much of that unlike many of the children and teenagers of the present time who grew up on ready to eat fast foods that have many of the wrong ingredients. And of course this does not apply to children alone there are as well thousands of adults who are also grossly overweight and who make no attempt or have no inclination to reduce their intake of the wrong foods and for that matter the wrong drinks.  Everybody at times perhaps needs to have an occasional splurge that is natural enough and unlikely to cause any harm, it is only when people make the wrong foods a part of their daily lives that the trouble is likely to set in.  That is why the culture of people growing their own food is still as relevant and as important as it ever has been.  Late Paddy Faley wrote a very stirring and enlightening poem about getting back again to “The spud and the spade”. Paddy was not just telling others what they ought to do; he was a shining example himself of planting his own vegetable garden as long as he was able to do it.

 

Protest Meeting

A protest against Government charges meeting will be held at The Devon Inn on Monday night May 21st. Everybody is welcome to attend and hear what steps are being taken to counteract all the charges that are being imposed on the citizens by all such austerity measures. Further information from Christy Kelly, Sugar Hill, Templeglantine.

 

A Story and Song

The songs of one of our own great singers late Tom McCarthy  of Newcastle West and formerly of Rooskagh were featured in Pat O’Donovan’s weekly “Story and Song” programme on West Limerick 102fm Radio on Saturday last.  The songs which were played back included – “The Pretty Little Girl from Omagh”, “My Donegal Shore”, The Wild Flower of the Laune”, “Somewhere in Between” and one of Tom’s  most local songs “Lovely Glenagown”, George Langan’s song “A Tribute to Tom McCarthy” was also included in the programme. Tom’s son Martin, who is a member of the Newcastle West Pipe Band, also played a few numbers of airs on the pipes to enhance what was a lovely and enjoyable programme. Well done to the presenter Pat O’Donovan on his choice for the programme.

 

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Knockdown News – 16/5/12

by Peg Prendeville

It was with shock that everybody heard of the closing of the shop in Carrigkerry. Another victim of our troubled times. Best wishes to Stevo and his wife and family as he embarks on another way of life. Another closure in West Limerick was Ballingarry library this week. But I still go with the old saying “Use it or lose it!” We have to support all small business, whether they be shops or libraries, if we want to keep them open.

Congratulations to Georgie Langan who has released a single CD called The Banks of the Gale written by Paddy Faley. Fair play to Georgie – he is always up to something! It was played on West Limerick radio on Monday night.

Congratulations to the Killeaney team who beat Rockhill on Sunday evening and will play Carrig in a playoff next Friday evening. The Killeaney committee wishes to thank all the local volunteers who helped them in the clean-up of the local roads over the past few weeks. There is now a lorry load of rubbish bags waiting to be collected.

The local ICA ladies held their AGM last week. The members thanked the outgoing President Maureen Long and welcomed in Peg Kelly from Loughill as the new President of the local guild. Outgoing secretary Pauline Sharp was also thanked for her hard work over the past four years and she had great pleasure in handing over the books to incoming secretary Peg Prendeville. Geraldine Hayes was welcomed in as the Treasurer for the coming year.

Congratulations to Timmy O’Connor, Clounleharde who became a great grandfather again this week when his grandchild Dawn gave birth to a baby boy.

Congratulations too to the Stack family in Mohernagh who appeared on TG4’s programme “Feis & Blood” on Sunday night last. Though they did not get a chance to go further it was a great achievement for Brendan, Gerard and Catherine. 

The Ballroom dancing has resumed in the Parish Hall in Ballyhahill on Monday nights from 9 to 11pm. All welcome.

 

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By Carrig Side – 16/5/12

by TomAherne

The Mission in Ardagh/Carrigkerry parish from 5th/11th May was a
tremendous success, with large crowds attending all the ceremonies in both churches, and Ardagh Community Centre. It was led and presented by Fr Seamus Enright CSsR and Fr Michael Dempsey CSsR, Fr Larry Madden, and the very active organizing committee. The theme was celebrating life in the community and young and elderly attended and enjoyed the various ceremonies. It was a renewal of faith for all and a return to the church for many who had lapsed in recent times. A good
number of people from outside the parish also attended and the Mission Stalls did a brisk business on holy items. It was twelve years since the last Mission, in the parish and what changes wereexperienced in Ireland in that period of high living down to the present austerity we are experiencing.  Fr Seamus, from Limerick (with Clounleharde roots) and Fr Michael from Belfast proved very popular with all sections of the community with their friendly approach and down to earth attitude. Michael led the singing and what a tremendous voice he has and it was great to hear all singers joining in the hymns. Why not keep joining
in with both choirs in the singing at the weekly Masses in the future, as it would add to the ceremony? Both Redemptorist’s visited Ardagh and Carrigkerry Schools and got the pupils involved in the ceremonies, in the churches. They brought Holy Communion to the sick and housebound in the parish, and over 100 people attended the Mass and Anointing of the sick in Ardagh Community Centre on Tuesday 8th May.
Fr Seamus and Pat Lawlor were featured on Sacred Space on West Limerick 102 Community Radio, on Sunday 6th May. With presenter John Keily from Ardagh, they gave great publicity to the event, and encouraged all to attend. Fr Seamus was also a guest on the Exchange
Programme, on Friday 4th and Tuesday 8th with presenter Sheila O’Regan
from Ardagh. He looked forward to the event and reviewed its progress and was a very interesting guest whose views on the church would be similar to most church attendees, at parish level. Well done to all involved in organizing and running the Mission, (and Kathleen, who
applied for it) which was a big undertaking and time consuming? The
people who participated in the various ceremonies and people behind the scenes who played their parts for the betterment of the community. The stall staff that were courteous and helpful and braved the elements to provide the service to people eager to take home a souvenir of the occasion. It was a social occasion as well which helped to brighten up people’s lives in these dark days. People living outside the parish returned to the parish for the evening sessions and renewed their friendships afterwards as people lingered for a chat and recall of past times. The weather was cold and the
temperatures were low outside, but Fr Michael’s singing raised thetemperatures and the spirits inside.
In times past in rural Ireland the parish mission was one of the highlights of the year. It was usually held in May and the people abandoned their weekly activities, and concentrated their minds on an
intense week of spiritual renewal. Houses were spring cleaned in case the holy fathers called and drives to the event were booked and plans were made to attend as many as possible sessions. This year’s mission reminded me a lot of those far off days as people attended in big numbers, in search of guidance and leadership and hope for the future.
The third Carrig Celtic soccer club draw was held in Moore’s Bar Carrigkerry on Sunday 6th May. Congratulations to the lucky winners as follows.1st Prize €1,000. Karol Makarewicz. 2nd Prize €250. Pat King.  €50 each to Peg Kiely, Michelle Molyneaux and Patsy Ahern.
The next draw takes place on Sunday 3rd June, and it costs €10 a month to enter.

Congratulations to Peter Fitzsimons and Mike Kiely who were prizewinners at the Flag Floor card game on Wednesday 2nd May.
Congratulations to Peg Mulvihill, and Jim Lynch who were 1st prize winners at Shanagolden card game held on Friday 4th May.
The Limerick G.A.A. club draw for May was held on Friday 4th at Fitzgerald’s Bar Kilmallock. Saint Kieran’s club had no winners on the night. The next draw will be held on Friday 8th June in the Idler Bar, Knockane.
Congratulations to James O’Connor Kilcolman, winner of the U-14
Bodhrán Competition, held in The Ramble Inn Abbeyfeale. Congratulations also to Paddy Donovan, Glenastar runner –up in the All Ireland Senior Spoons Competition and Edel Copse, Ardagh, 4th in the junior section, held as part of the Fleadh by the Feale festival over the May bank holiday weekend.

Longford defeated Limerick by 1-15 to 1-8 in the Ladies National Football League Division 4 Final, played at O’Connor Park in Tullamore on Sunday 6th May. Alva Neary, and Mai Kennelly from Ardagh, and Old Mill Ladies Club were members of the team. Limerick performed very well but faded in the closing stages, as Longford picked off the scores to win and gain promotion to Division 3.
Carrig Celtic defeated Newcastle West B 3-0 in Division 1 of the Desmond League on Sunday 6th May with goals from Pa Sullivan, Sean McSweeney and Anthony Molyneaux.  Old Mill lost 3-1 away to Athea Utd, also in the division. Carrig Celtic B defeated Ferry Rangers 2-0 at
home in Division 3 with goals from Mike Flynn, and Shane O’Connor. Michael Murphy was presented with the cup afterwards and the team
celebrated winning the League and promotion to Division 2.
The West Limerick Branch of the Labour Party recently held its A.G.M.in the Desmond Complex, in Newcastle West. Carrigkerry native Stephen Goulding continues as secretary for 2012. And he can be contacted on 087 1937752 or [email protected]
Saint Kieran’s defeated Ballysteen by 0-9 to 1-4 in the West Junior B Football Championship in Rathkeale Gaelic Grounds on Thursday 3rd May.
The team received a walkover from Drom/Broadford in round 2 of The
West Football League, on Saturday 5th.

Saint Kieran’s Board Na Nóg is holding their annual church gate collections
in Ardagh, Coolcappa and Kilcolman on Saturday/Sunday 19th/20th May
Enrolment is now taking place for Carrigkerry N.S. Please call or phone the principal on 069-76229.
Rosary will be recited at Churchtown Grotto, Newcastle West, each
evening from Sunday to Friday at 7pm for the month of May and all are
welcome.
The annual Parish Clerk’s Collection will be taken up on this coming
Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th May at all masses. An envelope is provided in the box which parishioners received at the start of the year and envelopes are also available in the Church. People are asked to be as generous as possible with their donations, in appreciation of
the work that Eileen does over the year. She is always on call to serve and the Church is a credit to her selfless work and dedication.
First Holy Communion will take place in Saint Colman’s Church, Kilcolman on Saturday 19th May at 11am. First Holy Communion will take place in Saint Molua’s Church, Ardagh on Saturday 19th May at 11.30am.
The closing date for entry into the Limerick in Bloom Competition is
Friday 25th May. Application forms and details are available from Community& Enterprise Section, Limerick County Council County Hall, Dooradoyle, Co Limerick. Phone: 061-496454 or the council website:
www.lcc.ie under the Community& Enterprise Section.
Saint Kieran’s are holding a dog night at the Limerick Greyhound Stadium, on Friday 8th June.  The members are currently seeking financial support for the event which is a fundraiser for the club. It will cost €50 to nominate a dog in the Johnny Duggan Memorial
Sweepstake, and the winning nominator will receive a prize of €200.
Admission Tickets to the event plus a race card cost €10 and one lucky person will win €500 by matching the finishing order winning number. Raffle Prizes will also be most welcome for the monster Raffle on the night. People who contribute sponsorship will be acknowledged. Further details from the event co-ordinator Ivan Neary at 087-1726684.
We extend our sympathy to Glensharrold native Anthony Quinn and family Balliniska Feohanagh, on the death of his wife Mary on 5th May. Sympathy also to their many relations around the locality. May she rest in Peace.
An open meeting to discuss the Fiscal Stability Treaty Referendum will be held at the Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine on Monday 21st May at 8.00pm. Speakers from both sides of the Yes and No campaign will be present. All are welcome.

 

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