Daffodil Day was Friday 22^nd March and two Coffee Morning events were held around the locality. Sharon Kinehan and Jackie Geoghegan were hosts in Lisgordan, Ardagh, and they raised € 900 and Moore’s Bar Carrigkerry hosted theirs and raised € 910. Thanks to the hosts and all who supported the events and the proceeds went to the Irish Cancer Society who continues to do wonderful work.

Congratulations to Carrig Celtic U-12 team and management who recently won the Desmond League Division 3 title, winning all their matches. Liam Liston received the League Trophy from Eddie O’Shaughnessy of the Desmond Schoolboy’s/Girls League after their game at home against Abbeyfeale Utd B on Saturday 16^th March. Panel. Liam Liston, Dan Duggan, Shane Murphy, Shane King, Darren Ward, Gavin Lynch, Amy O’Shea, John Hayes, William Clifford, Ciara Brouder, Eoin Heffernan, Aaron Heffernan, Jordan Ryan, Daniel Gerathy, Morgan Sheahan, Shane Dineen, Cian Ward.

Congratulations to Ardagh native Catherine Begley Kantoher, who was recently appointed Clerk of Ashford Church. We wish her well in her new position, in her adopted parish of Killeedy.

The Irish in the American Civil War was launched at Newcastle West Bookshop on Saturday 23^rd March by Sean Kelly a member of the Newcastle West Historical Society. Sean gave a most interesting talk on the war and his views on some of the battle sites he visited which was enjoyed very much by the good attendance present. The author of the 200 plus page book Damian Shiels from Reerasta South Ardagh, and family members were also in attendance. Damian gave all present details of his background work and his interest in the military and wars.  The official launch was done by Myles Dungan of RTE in the National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks on Saturday 23^rd February. The book is a social history of the war and it is broken into four sections ‘beginnings’, ‘realities,’ ‘the wider view’, and the ‘aftermath.’ Damian is an archaeologist by profession and this is his first book and it is published by The History Press Ireland.  The book is available for sale in Newcastle West Bookshop and the cost is € 20.

The following are the Lottery results from Foley’s Bar Reen’s Ardagh, on Monday 25 ^th March. The numbers drawn were 7, 21, 25, 26, and there was no winner of the Jackpot. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners. €60 Ann Mullins Ardagh. €60 Robbie Moriarty Ardagh. €60 Mary Foley c/o Curley’s. €30 Emma Collins c/o Moore’s Bar. €30 Bridie Noonan c/o Josie. €30  Mary Bennett Ardagh. Next week’s draw will be held in Neary’s Bar Ardagh, and the Jackpot will be €7,400.

Johnny McCarthy was a member of the Limerick senior football team that defeated London in Ruislip by 1-9 to 1-8 in Round 6 of the National Football League Division 4 on Sunday 24^th March.

Brendan McCarthy Darragh Treacy and Kevin Meade from the Saint Kieran’s club were members of the Limerick U-21 footballers who lost to holders Cork by 2-14 to 0-11 in the Munster semi final played in the Gaelic Grounds Limerick on Wednesday 27^th March. Brendan was corner back and Darragh midfield and Kevin an unused substitute.

Carrig Celtic lost 4-2 away to Ballingarry in the Desmond League Premier Division on Sunday 24^th March, with Ray Cahill scoring both of their goals. Old Mill drew 0-0 with Kildimo Utd at home in Division 1. Carrig Celtic B lost 4-2 at home to Feenagh in Division 2 with Brian Byrnes and Tony Doyle scoring their goals.

Limerick County Council has been upgrading the stretch of road from Carrigkerry Grotto to past Carrig Celtic A.F.C. Grounds in recent weeks. It was in a dangerous condition for a long while with very uneven surfaces, and a number of accidents had taken place there in recent times. We welcome the upgrade, and in time hope that many more sections of the roads around the locality will also be upgraded to adequate driving conditions.

Tracing ancestors and doing a family tree has become very popular in recent years with Television shows, and internet sites devoted to tracing your roots. Newspapers carry letters from people abroad seeking their relatives and many more will visit Ireland this year as part of the Gathering Festival. Last week Brian Liston from Australia paid a visit to Glensharrold to trace his ancestors Ahern’s and Listons who emigrated around the time of the famine.

The recent very cold spell of weather has put extra pressure on many sections of the community leading to increased fuel and fodder costs. The heating costs have escalated in recent years with the cost of electricity gas turf timber coal and briquettes going up on a continuous basis. The fuel allowance paid out to qualifying persons which has been cut back by six weeks in recent years, was due to cease on this Friday 5^th April. The good news is that the Minister Joan Burton has granted a week’s extension due to the very severe cold spell of weather at present.  This is a start but the fuel allowance should be restored in full to all recipients in need. The farming community continues to suffer   with their winter supply running low or gone and with no grass growth there at present. It has been a continuous Winter for the past two years and all people would welcome a major improvement in our climate.

Limerick County Council in association with An Taisce is urging people all over Limerick to get involved in the 14^th annual National Spring Clean Campaign, which takes place from 1^st-30^th April. Participation is open to individuals, schools, businesses, and community groups. Those that register are issued with clean up kits containing valuable tips on how to hold a successful clean up event. They include posters to advertise an event’ plastic bags in which to collect litter and recyclable material and tabards and gloves. Persons or groups interested in registering for the campaign can do so directly via the National Spring Clean Website at www.nationalspringclean.org or by calling the National Spring Clean hotline on (01)4002219/4002220.

West Limerick Resources held an information evening in The Courtenay Lodge Hotel on Tuesday 12^thMarch 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 Recourses by email at [email protected]

In conjunction with the national Spring Clean, a clean up will take place in the Kilcolman area on this Thursday 4^th April at 7.30pm. All are welcome to come along and help out.

Coolcappa Parents Association is hosting a fun/run from Clounagh to Rathkeale along the railway line on Sunday 14^th April at 11am, All are welcome to come along and enjoy the fun.

Kilcolman National School will hold its annual school dance in the Shannon House Foynes, on Sunday 14^th April from 3pm to 6pm. Music by Maura and Donie, and tickets cost € 5 and all support will be much appreciated.

A pilgrimage to Knock Shrine will take place on Saturday 20^th April. The day’s events will include talks, Rosary Eucharistic procession, blessing of the sick, Benediction, adoration Mass, Confessions, workshops. There will be children’s adoration and special workshop/talk for young people as well. The chief celebrant will be the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles Browne. People interested in attending are asked to contact Kathleen Cremin on 087-9215889.

Afternoon Tea dancing will be held in Carrigkerry Community Centre on Sunday 28^th April from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. The music will be supplied by the Premier Blue Boys.  The organizers would welcome more local support for this fundraiser as the proceeds will go towards the upkeep of the Community Centre.