The death has taken place of Kit Doody Ballyine, Newcastle West, and late of Liskilleen, Ardagh, on Sunday 5^thAugust peacefully at Abbott Close Nursing Home Askeaton. She was one of the parish’s oldest parishioners, and she will be sadly missed by her family, neighbours and friends. She came from a family of five, four girls and one brother and she was educated in Ardagh School. She mainly worked in the home, apart from a period away as a housekeeper for a priest. She was a woman of great faith who would walk to Mass in Ardagh Church. She had a great welcome for people calling to her house, and was interested in watching Television and the soaps and farming programmes. She liked to cook and bake, and other hobbies included jam making and knitting. Removal from Reidy’s Funeral Home, Newcastle West to Saint Molua’s Church, Ardagh, on Wednesday evening last. The Funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr Larry Madden P.P. with family members assisting in the readings, prayers of the faithful, life symbols and the gifts at the Offertory. Fr Madden delivered his well prepared homily and he traced Kit’s path through life. Jackie and Denis provided the hymns and music with help from her grandnieces Maggie and Sophie and a good crowd attended her removal and Funeral Mass. Burial took place in The Holy Trinity Cemetery Church Street, Rathkeale on Thursday 9^th August. Kit was a sister to the late Peg O’Sullivan, Ballyine  and the late John Doody, London.  Sympathy to her sisters Ita and Sr. Mary Juliana, nephews and nieces, relatives and friends. May she rest in Peace.

Sympathy is extended to Con and Willie Cremin and family Ballykiely, Ardagh, on the death of their brother-in-law Thomas McEnery, Dually, Newcastle West. His remains were removed from Reidy’s Funeral Home to Newcastle West Church on Wednesday 25^th July. He was laid to rest following Requiem Mass, in Churchtown Cemetery on Thursday 26^th July.  He is survived by his wife Mary, son Thomas, daughters Margaret, Ide, Ann and Maeve, sisters Rita and Mary brothers-in-law, relatives and friends. May he rest in Peace

Sympathy also to Donie Lyons and family Drumrisk, Glin, on the death of his mother Mary (née Sheahan) on 4^thAugust. She was laid to rest in Kilfergus Cemetery Glin on Tuesday 7^th August. Sympathy also to members of the extended Lyons family. May she rest in Peace.

We regret the passing of Con Houlihan from Castleisland, County Kerry and Portobello, Dublin, who was one of Ireland’s top sports writers for the past 40 years or so. His writings in numerous publications were compulsive reading for a large section of the general public. He was born in the hill country above Castleisland in 1925 and was highly intelligent and he covered all sports in his unique style of reporting. He mixed his rural knowledge with city life to give the readers a lovely mix of art and literature into his reporting and he was a genius with words and phrases. We are glad we had an opportunity to read some of his work and he will be sadly missed.

Garda vetting of participants for Community Employment Schemes, is a joke at present due to the delay in vetting people. I am in favour of Garda vetting for all people entering the workforce and I think we should have a national data base with fast access to details. At present the Carrigkerry/Old Mill Dev Ass F.A.S. Scheme is 7 weeks into a new project and they are still waiting to get clearance to add 2 new participants on to replace 2 others whose time expired on the scheme to bring up the total to 16 places which was granted. A weekly material grant is paid by F.A.S. for each participant on the scheme to buy materials. Over the 7 weeks this is a loss of €188.44 to the sponsor body to buy materials to do the work they have laid out to do on the application form. Compulsory Garda vetting on C.E. Schemes does not apply to all the Schemes and some sponsors can proceed and be granted participants, and get them vetted as the scheme proceeds as was the case before this new law was introduced. The Government is saving a lot of money as a result of the changes and sponsors are losing money each week they are being reduced participants. Why is it taking so long to Garda vet people in this small country and why have people to be vetted each time they change employment? I think that a universal Garda vetting data base for all members of the workplace would cut out the delay and speed up the process if the Government so wish.

A book on the life of Saint Molua, the patron Saint of Ardagh, compiled by Mary Kury is on sale at present. It traces the life story of the Saint from his young days to his time in Ardagh and his association with other places around the country. It also details Saint Molua’s Well and how to do the rounds there on Pattern Day 4^th August.  It is a very interesting publication running to 28 pages and it costs only €3. Copies can be got by contacting Mary on 069-76980.

The Saint Molua Well Committee would like to thank all the people who have contributed so generously with their support, time and talents and financial contributions, to make the project such a success. Thanks also to all who contributed to last week’s Church Gate Collection in Ardagh and Carrigkerry. It is a real pleasure to visit the Well now to do the rounds, or for a quiet moment of reflection and to bring home a bottle of water for home use.

The book ‘’Beyond the Myths’’ which was launched on Friday 20^th July at Newcastle West Library is selling very well at present. It contains 350 pages of very interesting stories from the 1982 to 1998 years, and is the work of the late Feohanagh/Castlemahon Parish Correspondent and writer Michael O’Riordan. It was compiled in book form by his son Eamon and launched by Matt O’Callaghan, of the Weekly Observer/Vale Star The hardback book is on sale in local shops for €10 and contains some wonderful stories from times past and is a fine publication  and well worth a read.

Congratulations and best wishes to Jamie Costello, Carrigkerry who celebrated his 21^st birthday with family and friends, at the Top of the Town Athea on Friday 3^rd August.

Congratulations and best wishes to Laura Sheehy, Ballinabearna, Old Mill and John Curtin, John Paul Terrace, Broadford who were married in Saint Colman’s, Church, Kilcolman, on Saturday 4^th August. Fr Lane performed the ceremony assisted by Canon Ambrose, and the Reception was held in The Ballygarry House Hotel Tralee.

Congratulations to the following who were prize winners at the Munster Fleadh Cheoil held in Dungarvan, County Waterford on the weekend of 21st-23^rd July. Claire Heffernan, Kilrodane, Ardagh and Killeedy Comhaltas won the senior whistle competition. James O’Connor, Kilcolman and Ardagh/Carrigkerry Comhaltas came second in the 12-15 Bodhrán competition. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann takes place in Cavan on the weekend of 17-19 August.

An Irish Night will be held at the Flag Floor Rambling House, Glensharrold on Wednesday 15^th August at 9.30pm.  It is hoped to run a number of these during the month to cater for people home on holiday. Tea and refreshments will be available and all are welcome.

Newcastle West Flower Show will be held on Wednesday 15^th August from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, and Thursday 16^thAugust from 7.pm to 9.pm, in Newcastle West Community Centre. The presentation of prizes is on Thursday night at 9pm. There will be children’s and an adult section and a copy of the schedule is available from members of the committee, Jack &Joan Buicke, Pat Lenihan, Pat Dalton, and Hannah Mortell.

The Palatine Museum Rathkeale is open to the general public for the month of August. The opening hours are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday from 2,pm to 5,pm. Admission adults €5, students €3, family €10 and IPA members are free.

Glenville House and Gardens, Glenville, Ardagh, will be open to the public from Friday 18^th August to Sunday 26^thAugust, from 9.30am to 1.30pm.Admission is €5, students €3, with children and OAP’s free.

Seisiún 2012 continues and people can catch the show at two Limerick venues, for the month of August. Templeglantine branch holds their show in the Devon Inn on Thursday nights at 9pm and Cappamore branch holds their show in the Heritage Centre Adare on Tuesday nights at 8.30pm. A great evening of music song dance and storytelling is promised at both venues, and well worth a visit and all are welcome

Desmond Hall, The Square, Newcastle West, is open for the 2012 season, with free admission. The site is open daily from 10am to 6 pm, with last admission at 5.15pm. Free guided tours are available at regular intervals. The last day of the season will be Wednesday 29^th August, and more details from Tel 069-77408.

Mass will be celebrated in Kilfergus Cemetery, Glin on Wednesday 15^th August at 7pm.

Mass will be celebrated in Kinard Cemetery, Glin on Thursday 16^th August.

Mass will be celebrated in Reilig Mhuire Graveyard, Askeaton, on Sunday 26^th August at 3.pm. Grave owners are asked to attend to family graves prior to the Mass.

The annual Pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Saturday 8^th September. Those who wish to travel can contact Mary on the Saint Vincent de Paul number 087-3537473.