A residential farm at Kilrodane, Ardagh was recently sold for a substantial figure. It is located on the main Ardagh to Newcastle West road close to Pallas Foods and it belonged to the late Tom Davis. It was bought by a local farmer and it made approximately ten thousand euro per acre. Agriculture land prices are on the way up again after the downturn, and much sought after when they come on the market.

The ‘’Senior Citizen; The Essential Guidebook’’ a roadmap to successful ageing was recently launched by Míchael O Muircheartaigh. Produced by Home Instead Senior Care with the support of Age Action and the HSE, the Guidebook features advice and information on a wide range of issues. They include allowances and entitlements, medical health and nutrition matters, home safety information legal and financial information, care options for older people, new technology bereavement and lots more. It also contains a directory of older person’s organizations, and useful contacts. To order a free copy of the Guidebook call1890 989 755 or log on to www.homeinstead.ie to download a pdf of the Guidebook.

Mass was celebrated for Bill Tierney late of Ardagh, Newcastle West, and Australia, by Fr Larry Madden in Saint Molua’s Church Ardagh, on Tuesday 19th March.  He was a much travelled person whose wish was to be laid to rest in his native land. He was a step-brother to John Joe and Bernard Kennelly and he died in Melbourne, Australia, last June.  The Mass was followed by the burial of ashes in the old Cemetery Abbeyfeale. We extend our sympathy to the Kennelly family Ardagh, other relatives and friends May he rest in Peace.

Johnny McCarthy and Darragh Treacy were members of the Limerick football team that lost to Tipperary 0-15 to 0-9 in round 5 of Division 4 of the National Football League, at Limerick Gaelic Grounds on Saturday 16th March.

Owen Hayes is in charge of Féile na nGael the national festival of hurling camogie and handball for boys and girls under 14 years of age this summer.  It is being hosted in Limerick from Friday to Sunday 5th to -7th July, and clubs will be hosting teams from all over the country. It is a big task for Owen and his team of volunteers and we wish them well in their task.

Carrig Celtic lost 6-3 at home to Broadford Utd in the Desmond League Premier Division on Sunday 17thMarch. Francis Moore, 2 and Podge Mc Carthy scored their goals. Old Mill and Carrig Celtic B had no matches.

Congratulations to Peg Murphy and Joan Madigan who were prizewinners at the Flag Floor card game held on Wednesday 13th March.

Congratulations to Moss O’Connor, and Joan Fitzgibbon who were first prize winners at the card game held in Shanagolden Hall on Friday 15th March.

The following are the Lottery results from Peadar’s Bar Ardagh, on Monday 18th March. The numbers drawn were 3, 5, 27, 30, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners. €60 Joan O’Connor c/o D Greaney. €60 E and J O; Donoghue c/o Madigan’s. €60 Moira O’Donovan Ardagh. €30 Jeremiah Danagher Old Mill. €30 Margaret Bridgeman c/o Madigan’s. €30 Julia Greaney c/o D Greaney. Next week’s Jackpot will be €7,200 and the draw will be held in Foley’s Bar Reen’s, Ardagh.

The current issue of the Green and White the Limerick G.A.A. Youth Magazine has been distributed to schools and shops in recent week. It is the 50th issue of the award winning magazine that was launched in the winter of 1996. It is another excellent publication that contains very interesting reading for all members of the family. A photo of Ardagh N.S. winners of the West 9 a-side Ladies Football Division 1 title is included.

Last Wednesday 20th March was the 21st Anniversary of the closing of Carrigkerry Post Office, which was under the ownership of the Faley family at that time. It was one of the darkest days in the history of the village, and its impact is still felt even to this day. It commenced the sad decline in the locality which saw the closure of The Carrig Inn, O’Sullivan’s Bar, and the demolition of the Funeral Home and the former Stacks building in the following years.

An exhibition of art works by Limerick Lady Associates in tribute to Charlotte Grace O’Brien can be viewed in the Red Door Gallery Newcastle West. Charlotte was the daughter of William Smith O’Brien Cahermoyle, Ardagh, and the 1848 patriot. Charlotte was a novelist and poet, and associated with helping the women who travelled on the Coffin Ships that left Cobh for a new life in America.

The annual 45 card game will be held in Shanagolden Hall on Good Friday 29th March at 9.30pm. A total of €2,000 will be available in prize money and admission is €15. First Prize €1,000, second Prize €500, third Prize €200, and a number of table prizes.  A Raffle will be held for valuable money prizes, and teas will be served at midnight.  All card players are very welcome.

The annual Good Friday card game will be held at the Flag Floor  Glensharrold on Friday 29th March at 9pm. All card players are welcome, and tea and refreshments will be provided.

Easter week is upon us and Trocaire boxes are still available for collection in the local Churches, and it is hoped that all families will by now have taken one home. Trocaire this year celebrates 40 years working for a just World and they would appreciate a positive response to this year’s appeal. Over that time they have done wonderful work in helping so many people, and communities to improve their conditions and lives in the third World. We are told that almost half of the people in the World live on less than €2 a day which means a constant and desperate struggle to survive. By contributing €2 a day over Lent it will make a big difference to support some of the poorest communities in the World to work their way out of poverty. €2 a day will help landless families to secure land to farm to grow food and to earn an income. €2 a day will provide families with agricultural training to ensure better harvests and a more reliable source of food. €2 a day will help communities set up a savings and loans scheme, providing families with the capital to buy land or start a small business. It is to be hoped that every family will contribute some amount for this very worthy cause. The boxes can be returned to all the Churches over the Easter ceremonies.

West Limerick Resources held an information evening in The Courtenay Lodge Hotel on Tuesday 12thMarch to launch the West Limerick Surveying and Conservation of Graveyards Training Initiative. The aim of the initiative is to provide local communities with the skills and knowledge necessary to accurately record and catalogue details relating to local historic graveyards in a way which will ensure that the information will be easily available now and into the future for those wishing to do genealogical historical and other research into local history. The training which will be delivered by Eachtra Archaeological Projects will start in early April. The training will be free of charge to those based in the West Limerick area and limited places are available. Contact Suzanne at West Limerick Resourses by email at [email protected]

The Easter ceremonies for Coolcappa/Kilcolman parish are as follows. Saint Colman’s Church Holy Thursday 7.30pm Mass. Good Friday 3pm The Passion. Easter Sunday Dawn Mass 6am, (new time) Easter Sunday Morning Mass 10.30am, in Saint Kyran’s Church. Good Friday 7.30pm Stations of the Cross. Holy Saturday 7.30pm, Solemn Easter Vigil begins in the grounds at 7.30pm.

The Easter ceremonies for Adage/Carrigkerry are as follows Saint Molua’s Church Holy Thursday 8pm Mass. Good Friday 3.pm The Passion, and 7.30pm Stations of the Cross. Holy Saturday 8pm Mass. Easter Sunday 10am Mass. In Saint Mary’s Church Holy Thursday 6.15pm Mass. Good Friday 3pm Stations of the Cross, and The Passion at 7.30pm. Easter Sunday 11.30am Mass.

I extend Easter greetings to fellow contributors, staff and management and to all the readers of these notes.