The following are the Lottery results from Neary’s Bar Ardagh, on Monday 29th April. The numbers drawn were 4, 5,8,28, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners. €60 Ger Power c/o Bus Eireann. €60 Joan Copse c/o Ballintemple. €60 Ann Hollyhead c/o Curley’s. €30 Liam O’Brien c/o Curley’s. €30 DOD and COD c/o Peadar’s Bar. €30 Cecilia Melia c/o Curley’s. Next week’s Jackpot will be €8,400 and the draw will be held in Reen’s Bar Ardagh.

Congratulations to the pupils of Coolcappa and Kilcolman National Schools who were confirmed by Bishop Brendan Leahy in Saint Colman’s Church Kilcolman on Tuesday 23rd April.

 Carrig Celtic drew 3-3 away to Glin Rovers in The Desmond League Premier Division on Monday 29th April. John Doyle, Podge McCarthy, and Francis Moore scored their goals. Old Mill and Carrig Celtic B had no fixtures.

Congratulations to Old Mill who defeated Adare 7-1 to clinch the Desmond Schoolboy’s/Girls League U-16 Division 3 League.

Congratulations to Joan Madigan, and Peter Fitzsimons who were prizewinners at the Flag Floor card game held on Wednesday 24^th April.

Congratulations to Limerick senior footballers who defeated Offaly by 0-16 to 1-11 in the National Football League Division 4 Final in Croke Park on Saturday 27^th April. Darragh Treacy was introduced as a late substitute, and Johnny McCarthy failed a fitness test and was unable to take his place at full back.

Saint Kieran’s defeated Glin by 2-9 to 1-9 in Round 2 of the West Limerick Junior B Football League played in Culhane Park Glin on Friday 26^th April.

Saint Kieran’s/Sean Finns lost to Father Casey’s by 2-12 to 0-8 in Round 2 of the County Premier Minor Football Championship played in Rathkeale on Tuesday 23^rd April.

The 14^th annual Eigse Michael Hartnett Literary & Arts Festival was held in Newcastle West from Thursday 25^thApril to Saturday 27^th April. An action programme of events took place to satisfy all lovers of Michael Hartnett and poetry in general. A number of high profile guests were present to present their work and views of Michael and to entertain the public.  I Live in Michael Hartnett, an anthology of poems, edited by James Lawlor from Knocknagun Carrigkerry was launched at The Red Door by Paula Meehan. Copies of the book can be got at Newcastle West Bookshop for € 15.

The members of Knockdown Vintage Club and Estuary Macra Club presented a cheque worth €6,610 to representatives of A.C.T. (Aid Cancer Treatment) at the Knockdown Arms on Saturday 27^th April.

The Rosary will be recited each evening at 7pm during the month of May at Churchtown Grotto Newcastle West.

May Day has come and gone and still no sign of milder and more favourable weather to report. It has been a trying time for all members of the community due to the austerity measures in place and increases in all goods, and services. The farming community has been hit hard due to the fodder crisis, and lack of grass growth. The fuel allowance was ended on Friday 12^th April despite the harsh weather we were experiencing at the time. The Carbon tax on fuel came into force on May Day adding more costs and misery on the most vurnable in our society. The property tax is next on the agenda to test peoples resolve, with septic tank charges ongoing and water charges to come after the next Local Elections. We lament the departure of our youth to foreign shores to seek employment denied to them by their own Government, and still we have half a million unemployed when all the different schemes are taken into consideration. The banks continue to run the country and the high flyers can claim to be bankrupt and get their debts written off.  There is something rotten in the state of Ireland (Denmark as in the saying) and the small people remain downtrodden. Fair play to our President Michael D Higgins who is starting to make a stand and tell the true story. The only welcome news is that the swallows and cuckoo have arrived to brighten and lighten our hearts.

The Limerick in Bloom Competition is to encourage community involvement in the improvement and enhancement of the visual impact of settlements by means of flower, tree and shrub planting. The judging will take place from mid-July to mid-August. An Awards Ceremony will be held in the Autumn where cash prizes will be made to each category winner and to the overall winner. Application forms and details are available from Environment Department, Limerick County Council, County Hall, Dooradoyle, Co Limerick. Phone 061-496386. Email www.lcc.ie under the Environment Department. The closing date for entry is Wednesday 22^nd May.

The month of April was National Spring Clean month and the majority of communities held their own clean ups during the month. The amount of rubbish collected along the roadside was staggering with just as much left inside the ditches. It paints the country in a poor light, in a year that Ireland is promoting the Gathering and hoping to attract tourists in to events.

Enrolment is now taking place for the new term at Carrigkerry National School. Please call to the School for the necessary forms.

An Alzheimer’s Tea Day and Cake Sale will be held at the Red Door, The Square, Newcastle West, on Thursday 9^th May between 10am and 4pm. The Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland is over 30 years in existence, providing care and family support for sufferers. All the money raised locally on Tea Day assists in the provision of ongoing services for families in County Limerick. People are invited to come along and bring a friend and enjoy ‘’a cuppa’’ at the Red Door. All support will be greatly appreciated.

Listowel Community College is holding a VTOS open Information morning on Thursday 9th May from: 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. for adults wishing to return to Education. VTOS (Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme) is a second chance education programme for adults over 21 in receipt of a social welfare payment.  Details regarding the course and eligibility for the course will be available on the day. For further information please contact the school on 068-21023

The ‘’Darkness into Light’’ walk will be held in Limerick on Saturday 11^th May commencing at 4am. The fundraising walk is part of a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about suicide and self harm. Last year 15,000 people participated in 14 counties, and this year’s Darkness into Light walk will take place at 20 locations nationwide. Pieta House in Mungret is behind the fundraising 5k walk route in the city. They will open four more new crisis centers this year in Cork, Galway, Tipperary, and Kerry. They will also launch a nationwide campaign aimed at reducing the rate of male suicide. Registration for Darkness into Light is available atwww.pieta.ie. 

West Limerick community radio is holding their next car boot sale and indoor market at Newcastle West Community Centre on Sunday 12^th May from 9am to 3pm. The admission is € 2 and a stall can be booked by contacting Marian on 087-6866450.

A Special Remembrance Sunday for Ireland’s missing people will be held in Knockfierna, on Sunday 12^th May at 2pm. The guest speakers will be Patrick Hedderman, Abbott of Glenastal Abbey and Mary Phelan, (sister of Jo Jo Dollard, who is missing for 17 years.) The special guests will include Noírín Ní Riain and Fr Seán O’Diuin, and it will be followed by walk/traditional entertainment.

The annual May Fair and Vintage Rally in aid of Dromcollogher Respite Centre will be held on Sunday 19^th May. This annual fair is the main fundraiser in aid of the centre. Raffle tickets are currently on sale. And all support will be much appreciated.

First Holy Communion will be celebrated in Saint Colman’s Church Kilcolman on Saturday 25^th May.

The Sacrament of Confirmation for Ardagh/Carrigkerry school pupils will be administered on Tuesday 28^th May in Saint Mary’s Church Carrigkerry.

A special West Limerick pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place on Wednesday 14^th August. A direct flight from Shannon with full board at the Hotel Paradis for seven nights accompanied by a spiritual director. Itineraries, booking forms and further information on request (without obligation) by contacting Pat Dalton at 069-62306.

A trip to Medjugorje has been arranged for this coming autumn, from 14^th to 21^st September, with flights from/to Shannon Airport. Bed and breakfast and an evening meal are included in the cost of € 689. People are invited to join the organizers for a relaxing and a reflective week. More details from John Keily 069-76253 or087-6751795.