By Tom Aherne

A meeting to put a committee in place to oversee the development of a children’s Playground in Carrigkerry was held in the Community Centre on Thursday 6th December. A good crowd was in attendance, with a lot of discussion taking place on a suitable venue, the costs involved and grants that may be available. It is proposed to site the playground in the angle plot of land in between the two roads leading from the village to the Primary School.  This land is owned by the School and it could also include the proposed Campaign House Replica and Campaign Park.  Grants are available from West Limerick Resources to part fund the work, with the community to come up with the remainder. A follow up meeting was held on Thursday night 20th December with a number of new people present.  They received feedback from the first meeting and a number of different fundraising events were discussed. The Committee is as follows Chairperson- Theresa Hayes. Vice-Chairperson-Pat King. Joint Secretaries- Helen King, and John Lynch. Treasurer- Lorraine O’Sullivan.  Ass-Treasurer- Grainne Ahern. PRO Pat King. All interested in being involved in this exciting venture are asked to attend future meetings and all are most welcome.  The next public meeting will be held on Thursday 17th January in Carrigkerry Community Centre at 8.30pm.

The weather remains a great topic of conversation for Irish people, and it was very favourable for travel over the past month or so. It was also mild for the season and a number of flowers are showing their heads above ground at present. The many Irish living in Australia are enjoying a heatwave and very uncomfortable working conditions by all accounts. The famous weather forecaster Ken Ring from New Zealand has predicted similar conditions for Ireland this Summer. We could do with a long dry sunny summer after the two previous summers of mainly continuous rainfall. Reading through this year’s Old Moore’s Almanac the news on the weather is not so good for 2013.  They predict a cold March and a late spring with a drip-fest for April apart from a good week in the middle of the month. A wet May with a better June with the possibility of flooding in the Southern counties. The month of July will be humid misty and rainy with some sunny days. The middle two weeks of August will be nice, and the time to take a holiday in Ireland. September will be a month of pleasure and pain with people experiencing freezing and sunburn at the same time. It will be dark and cold in October followed by light snow in November, and December. We will have to wait and see who will be right, but hopefully it will be a lot better than the previous two.

Congratulations to Sheila O’Regan, Ardagh, on her election on to the board of West Limerick Resources. She was nominated by Ardagh Voluntary Housing Ltd and she was elected a Community Director, to serve the Deel Upper Area, at their meeting held on Tuesday 11th December. Sheila brings a lot of qualities to this role through her many years work with the development of Ardagh Voluntary Housing which has been a great success in the village. She is also involved in the main Voluntary housing and the Rural Bus Organizations.   Sheila is also the friendly voice we listen to on West Limerick 102 Community Radio.  She commenced on the West Limerick Matters programme when the Station went on air, back in May 2005. She presents the very popular Exchange Programme three days a week at present. As an unpaid volunteer she has given tremendous service to the Radio over the years with her skills, experience, and enthusiasm a great asset. Stephen Goulding from Carrigkerry was also re-elected on to the Board for a further term. We wish both well and know they will continue the good work they are well known for. West Limerick Resources has been very good for the people of the West Limerick area since they commenced their services in the early nineties, and we look forward to their continued involvement over the coming years.

The following are the Lottery results from Neary’s Bar Ardagh, on Monday 7th January. The numbers drawn were 7, 8, 10, 20, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows. 60 Larry Ward, Carrigkerry. 60 Michael Liston, Glenastar. 60 Niamh Barden, Ardagh. 30 Larry Ward, Carrigkerry. 30 Patrick Mullins. 30 John Mullins, Ardagh.  Next Week’s draw takes place in Foley’s Bar Reens, Ardagh, and the Jackpot will be ,5,200.

The playing season has commenced at inter county level, and Saint Kieran’s players Darragh Treacy (senior football) and Brendan Mc Carthy (U-21 Football) have been involved with Limerick teams in recent weeks.

Congratulations to Tommy Danaher, and Jim Kelly from the Old Mill who recently celebrated their 80thbirthdays in style in local venues. Both were playing members with Ardagh and Kilcolman hurling and football teams in the fifties.

Saint Kieran’s G.A.A. Club will hold their annual general meeting in Saint Molua’s Hall Ardagh, on Friday 18th January at 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend.

The Sean Nós dancing classes continue each Thursday night in Ardagh Hall at 8pm, with classes for children at 7pm. It is a good way to keep fit and to meet new people, and new members are always welcome. The Irish Step dancing classes have returned on Monday nights also in the hall at 7pm.

Set dancing classes will resume in the Ballintemple Inn Newcastle West, on Tuesday 22nd January at 8.30pm. All are welcome to attend.

The annual Rathfredagh Cheshire Home charity walk will take place on Sunday 27th January. The route for the walk will be along the old Railway line from Barna to Newcastle West, and then on to Rathfredagh. Sponsorship cards can be got by ringing Rathfredagh on 069-83100. This is one of the homes major fundraising events and all support will be much appreciated.

Athea C.C.E. will hold a céilí in the Top of the Town Athea, on Friday 18th January at 9.30pm with music by Taylor’s Cross Céilí Band. There will be one hour’s tuition by Timmy Woulfe from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. All are welcome and tea and refreshments will be served at the interval.

The 13th annual charity céilí in aid of Chernobyl Children International organized by Mike and Catherine Kiely, Templeglantine will take place in the Devon Inn Hotel, on Friday 8th February at 9.30pm. Music by Taylor’s Cross Céilí Band with lots of spot prizes to be won and all are welcome.