Congratulations and best wishes to Bridie Kiely, Glensharrold, Carrigkerry who celebrated her 90^thbirthday on Wednesday 20^th February. She celebrated the occasion with family relations and friends in the Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine on Sunday 24^th February.

Best wishes to two members of CCE, Cluain Chréadhail who are presently on a tour of Britain with the Echoes of Eireann tour group from Friday 22^nd February to Saturday 2^nd March. Christine Mulcahy from Killeedy will be dancing and playing the concertina, and Claire Heffernan from Kilrodane, Ardagh, will be playing the concert flute. Both were members of the Echoes of Eireann tour of Ireland last year. The Tour sponsored by Tourism Ireland is a staged show of Irish traditional music, song, and dance. Well done to all the local competitors who participated in the Munster  Finals of Ceol an Geimhridh 2013 held in Cappamore on Sunday 17^th February.

Carrigkerry Community Centre and Carrigkerry Sports Association Ltd have been successful in their application for grant funding from Airtricity. A total of €5,200 has been awarded to Carrigkerry Sports Association Ltd towards the cost of installing a solar water heating system for Carrig Celtic Dressing Rooms.  A total of €3,200 has been awarded to Carrigkerry Community Centre towards the cost of also installing a solar water heating system. This is wonderful news for both groups in the community in difficult times to be granted this money to install solar water systems, which use the natural rays of the sun to heat up the water, which in turn will save on electricity costs. The Tournafulla, Rathcahill, and Dromada Community Awards Presentation will take place in the Con Colbert Hall Athea on this Thursday night 28^th February at 8.pm.

We extend our sympathy to Mary and Oliver Moloney and family Glensharrold Carrigkerry on the death of Mary’s uncle Charlie Hill, Cobh County Cork. He was laid to rest in the old graveyard Cobh following Requiem Mass in Saint Colman’s Cathedral on Tuesday 12^th February.  May he rest in Peace.

We extend our sympathy to Brendan, and Joan Duggan, and family School Road Ardagh, on the death of Brendan’s brother Danny Duggan from Sugarhill, Templeglantine.  Sympathy also to members of the extended Duggan family. He was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery Newcastle West on Friday 22^ndFebruary. May he rest in Peace.

We extend our sympathy to the O’Connor family Glenastar, Ardagh, on the death of Nora’s husband Tim ‘Thady’ Quaid Sandhill Road Ballybunion and late of Direen, Athea. He was laid to rest in in Knockanure Cemetery on Sunday 24^th February. May he rest in Peace.

The following are the Lottery winners from Peadar’s Bar Ardagh on Monday 18^th February. The numbers drawn were 9,14,16,26, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners. €60 Jerry Kiely c/o Bus Eireann. €60 Annette Galvin Ardagh. €60 Jimmy Donoghue Askeaton. €30 Fiona Hennessy c/o Moloney’s Shop. €30 Donal and Cian c/o Moloney’s Shop. €30 Ailish Enright Ardagh. Next week’s draw will be held in Reen’s Bar Ardagh, and the Jackpot will be €6,400.

Carrig Celtic B lost 1-0 away to Glin Rovers B in the Richard Hogan Cup semi final on Sunday 17^thFebruary. Old Mill lost 1-0 away to Glantine in the first round of the Desmond Cup. Carrig Celtic and Creeves Celtic had their games postponed in the Desmond Cup.

The County Limerick G.A.A. Championship draws in hurling and football were held in recent weeks. Saint Kieran’s are in Group 3 of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship along with Dromin-Athlacca, Caherline, and Bruff. The first round is due to be played on week ending 12^th May.  The top team in each group progress to the semi final. In senior football Saint Kieran’s are in Group 1 along with Adare, Monaleen, Pallasgreen, Newcastle West and Saint Patrick’s. The top three teams in each group progress to the knock out stages. Brendan Mc Carthy and Darragh Treacy were members of the Limerick U-21 football team that defeated Wicklow by 2-13 to 1-8 in a challenge match in Portlaoise on Sunday 17^thFebruary.

Knockfierna Rambling House will hold a night of music song and storytelling in Kilfinny Community Hall on Friday March 1^st at 8pm. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend and enjoy the night.

Parents wishing to enroll their children in Kilcolman N.S. in September are invited to contact the school principal for an application form. The closing date for applications is Friday 15^th March. Please telephone069-60005 for further details.

A fundraising night in aid of The Dialysis Unit, Limerick Regional Hospital will take place  at the Flag Floor Rambling House on Friday 1^st March at 9.30pm. A great night’s entertainment is promised and tea and refreshments will be available and all are welcome.

The annual walk in aid of Dromcollogher Respite Centre will be held on Sunday 5^th March. The route is 5 miles around Dromcollogher, and sponsorship cards are available at 063-83934.

Caring for Carers, Limerick Branch is now taking names for the forthcoming ‘Caring in the Home Course’ which will take place at Saint Ita’s Hospital Newcastle West, commencing Thursday 7^th March.

The Witness is a musical by Carol & Jimmy Owens. It is the story of Jesus, told and sung by Peter and the other men and women who knew the Master best.  It features a great cast and it is co-ordinated by Fr Terry Loughran. The witness a musical will be presented by the Diocese of Limerick, in the Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, on Friday 8^th and Saturday 9^th March at 8.pm.This production which is being staged just before Easter is an ideal opportunity for parishes, youth groups, as well as individuals to participate in a meaningful and relevant way in the Year of Faith and to enter into the spirit of the season of preparation for the events of Holy Week. Young people would particularly enjoy this musical.  You can book your tickets which cost € 15 each at the Lime Tree Box Office Tel 061-774774 or on www.limetreetheatre.ie

The award winning Ardagh Drama Group will present their two act comedy play ‘’Kevin’s Bed’’ by Bernard Farrell in the Ratkeale Arts Centre on 3^rd,4^th,14^th, 15^th,24^th,25^th,26^th,March at 8pm. They will also perform the play in Knockaderry Resource Centre on Thursday 7^th March in aid of the Feohanagh/Castlemahon Community Hall Development. They will also participate in the West Limerick Drama Festival on Saturday 9^th March in Knockaderry.

The death has taken place of James (Jim) Neville, Ballylin Shanagolden, and late of Kilcolman Rovers soccer club. He was the son of the late Jack and Catherine, and he was a member of a large family and he was 63 years old. He was educated in nearby Nutgrove School and Rathkeale Technical School. He worked as a carpenter in the building trade and took pride in his work. He was very involved in playing sports in his young days winning honours with Kilcolman Rovers as a player and manager in soccer and Kilcolman, Carrigkerry and Saint Kieran’s in football.  He won a West Junior football medal with Kilcolman in 1970 and a West U-21 football  medal  with Carrigkerry in 1971(final played in 1972) and a number of tournament trophies during a short career. He won 7 Desmond League medals Munster Junior Cups and F.A.I. Area Cups and Desmond Cup medals with Kilcolman Rovers over a long playing career.

His health declined and he was forced to give up work about 14 years ago but he kept active and pursued his leisure activities. He liked attending matches and vintage displays with his friends, and he was a familiar figure around Creeves Cross.  He also liked reading quizzes, and taking a few drinks in the Thatch Bar. He was honoured by the Kilcolman Rovers soccer club at their function to mark 44 years in the Desmond League in Neary’s Bar Ardagh on 12^th January 2013. His sudden passing is much regretted by all who were lucky to know Jim and to see him playing sports since he donned the Kilcolman Rovers jersey in 1968 up to his retirement as manager in 1987.

His remains reposed at Madigan’s Funeral Home, Shanagolden from 6.pm, followed by removal from8.pm, to the local Church on Thursday evening last. His Funeral Mass was celebrated in Saint Senan’s Church Shanagolden by Father Jim Noonan with family members assisting in the ceremony and the choir members supplied some appropriate hymns and music. His brother Maurice on behalf of the family paid a lovely tribute to Jim, who was taken far too young from this World. Members of Kilcolman Soccer Club and Saint Kieran’s G.A.A. Club formed a guard of honour as his remains left the church. Burial took place in Kilmoylan Cemetery on Friday 22^nd February. We extend our sympathy to his brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, relatives, kind neighbours, and a large circle of friends. May he rest in Peace.

Listowel Community College is holding an Open Day, on Wednesday 6th March from 2pm-7pm. All welcome to talk to the staff about all the courses on offer at Listowel Community College, from Post Primary Education, Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses and VTOS. Complimentary tea/coffee.