by Tom Aherne

The following are the lottery results from Peadar’s Bar Ardagh, on Monday 2^nd July. The numbers drawn were 10,14,27,30, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows.  €60 Mike Magner Ardagh. €60 John +Sinead Danaher Ardagh. €60 Mary Griffin Reens. €30 Patrick Mullins Ardagh. €30 Noel Galvin Ardagh. €30 Alan Quaine c/o Thatch Bar. Next week’s draw takes place in Reens Bar Ardagh, and the Jackpot will be €18,800.

Carrig Celtic AFC held their fifth and final 300 club draw, at Moore’s Bar Carrigkerry on Sunday 1^st July. We congratulate the lucky prize winners. First Prize €1,000 West Limerick Labour Party. Second Prize €250 Martina O Connor. €50 each to John Healy, Theresa Dillon, and James Sheehy.  The first prize winners donated their prize back to the club which was much appreciated. The club would like to thank everybody who supported the draw over the past five months.

Athea G.A.A.  held their second club draw at Collins Bar, Athea, on Saturday 30^th June. Congratulations to all the prize winners which included two local winners. First Prize €500 Denis +Catherine Hayes Knockfinisk. Third Prize €150 Mike Crowley Knockfinisk.

We wish a happy retirement to Mary Anglim, post mistress of Ballagh Post Office, which closed for business on Friday 29^th June. Mary Mulvihill, a native of Carrigkerry, became postmistress in 1974 and served for 38 years. She was a very popular lady who was dedicated to her customers and her service to the area will be sadly missed in the future. Best wishes to Mary, Tom and family in the future.

The folklore commission of Ireland commenced their collection in National Schools around the country on 1^st July 1937. Pupils from over 5,000 Schools participated in gathering vast amounts of local knowledge over an 18 month period. Over 100,000 children from 11-14 were involved and they interviewed their parents, relations and neighbours to gather the knowledge. The local Schools participated and their original work is available in the National Folklore Collection in University College Dublin.  The topics the children were instructed to research and write about included local history and castles and monuments, folktales and legends, songs, riddles, proverbs, customs beliefs, games and pastimes, traditional work practices, crafts, place names etc. The material was written into their homework copies and later re-written into the larger official notebooks that had been distributed for the scheme. The result was more than half a million manuscript pages of valuable material collected within the twenty-six- counties. We have passed the 75^thAnniversary of the commencement of the project at present and it may be time to collect new material to add to the collection. We could use different headings to take in the Celtic tiger years as well and I am sure it would make interesting reading for the people in the future.

The list of Church gate Collections for 2013 for Ardagh/Carrigkerry Parish are on show to view at the back of each Church. People intending to hold a Church gate collection in 2013 are asked to consult this official list, to avoid a clash with the Church list of collections.  More consultation and co-operation is needed as people can get real fed up with facing two or three different collections on occasions.  The weekly envelope collection is taken up during the Saturday Mass in Ardagh, and the Sunday Mass in Carrigkerry. The following is the list, of additional Church collections for 2013 Social Services Collection 12/13 January. Holy Places Collection 29^th March (Good Friday) Vocation Sunday 20/21 April. Limerick Youth Service Collection 4/5 May. Parish Clerk’s Annual Collection 18/19 May. Eucharistic Congress 1/2 June. Cura Collection 15/16 June.  Peters Pence Collection 6/7 July. Mission Sunday 19/20 October. Diocesan Needs Collection 3^rd Sunday each Month. Lenten Stations 16/17 February. Easter Dues 30/31 March. October Stations 5/6 October. Christmas Dues 24/25 December.  This list takes up 24 more week-ends, allowing for 28 free week-ends for outside collections.  The holding of a Church gate collection is of great benefit to the organizations that hold them and they should respect the dates that are available and the paying public.

The death of Owen Neville, from Ballinguile, Croagh and Shannon on 1^st July is much regretted around West Limerick.  He was a fine singer and guitar player who performed in Ardagh Hall in the sixties.  The fund raising Concerts and Talent Competitions attracted the best of artists and local talent and large crowds attended. Through the mists of time I can still see him on stage bringing great joy to all present.   Owen played and sang at the top venues in Limerick in those years and also appeared with Tom and Pascal at the Savoy Theatre on 24^th June 1976. He was laid to rest in the Old Cemetery Adare on Wednesday 4^th July. May he rest in Peace.

The death has taken place of Tom Nash, Birmingham, England, formerly Ardagh, Newcastle West and Barnakyle, Patrickswell. The Funeral took place in Birmingham on Friday 6^th July. A Memorial Mass to take place at a later date in the Church of the Blessed Virgin, Patrickswell. Sympathy to his wife Celia, sons, brothers, sisters, grandchildren and extended family and friends. May he rest in Peace.

The Ardagh/ Carrigkerry branch of Saint Vincent De Paul wish to thank the pupils and staff of Ardagh National School for their generous contribution of €170, the proceeds of their bring and buy sale.

The RTE Sunday Mass on 1^st July featured the parishioners of Coolcappa/Kilcolman, which was a great honour for the parish and a follow up to the recent Mass broadcast on RTE Radio 1. I missed it myself due to other commitments, but the reports were very positive and all the people involved can be proud of the part they played.

Limerick County Council workers continue repair work to the bridge located in Glensharrold. They have made good progress over the past five weeks in repairing the large hole that appeared in the road last November. It is slow work and the wet weather has not helped. The people affected by the road closure are a little more optimistic at present as the work progress and look forward to the road re-opening as soon as possible.

Carrig Celtic members and members and friends of the Kiely family presented a cheque for €2,020 to Doctor Peter Boers, consultant Neurologist Regional Hospital Limerick on Monday 2^nd July.  The proceeds of the recent Michaél Kiely Memorial Tournament.

The club is holding their annual general meeting at the clubhouse on this Thursday 12^th July at 8.30pm. All members are asked to attend to play their part in the running of the club.

Kilcolman Rovers ladies club will hold their A.G.M. at Neary’s Bar, Ardagh, on Friday 20^th July at 9.30pm. All the members are asked to attend and new members are welcome.

Saint Kieran’s defeated Feenagh/Kilmeedy by 1-12 to 1-11 in Round 3 of the West Limerick Junior A Hurling Championship at Newcastle West Gaelic Grounds on Friday 29^th June.

Saint Kieran’s lost to Knockaderry by 0-12 to 1-6 in the semi final of the West Intermediate Hurling Championship on Sunday 1^st July.

Knockdown Vintage Club, and Killeaney Soccer Club, is holding a family sports day in the Sports field on Sunday 15^thJuly commencing with traditional music from 1pm. A large number of events are planned and there will be a display of cars and tractors and working machinery. The Killeaney Club will host arts and crafts, stalls and farmers market, and all stall holders will be free of charge. €5 will gain entry to all events, with children free. All support will be appreciated.