The death has taken place of Mary O’Shea Ballyneety, Shanagolden wife of the late Tim, at her residence on Friday May 2^nd. She was a wife and homemaker and within a month of her 90^th birthday. She was a native of Templeglantine and the eldest of five girls and she worked out in service after leaving School. She married Tim O’Shea and they lived in Bruree before emigrating to America. They returned after six years to live in Ballyneety taking up residence in the house previously owned by the Foley family. She lay in repose on Saturday May 3^rd from 6.30pm, at Reidy’s Funeral Home Newcastle West followed by removal to Saint Colman’s Church Kilcolman.

Fr Denis Mullane and Fr Tony Mullins, concelebrated her Funeral Mass on Sunday at 12 noon. Family members participated in the readings, prayers of the faithful, and offertory gifts. Fr Denis paid tribute to Mary during his homily describing her as a woman who loved nature bird song and the company of her dogs. She liked to read and to trace relations, and she appreciated the comfort of a good open fire. Fr Tony read an appropriate piece from a newspaper cutting that Mary had kept in her diary. The Church was full for the Mass as people paid their final respects to Mary and the family. She was laid to rest in Kilcolman Cemetery on Sunday May 4^th. We extend our sympathy to her daughter Maria Kelleher, son Pat, daughter-in-law Kate, grandchildren, sister Betty, nephew, nieces, other relatives, and friends. May she rest in Peace.

Congratulations and best wishes in the future to  Grace O’Mahoney daughter of Lillian, and Seamus, Coolyroe, Castlemahon, and Francis Moore, son of Mary and Frank, Carrigkerry who were married in Saint John the Baptist Church Castlemahon on Saturday May 3^rd. The celebrant was Fr John Duggan P.P. Castlemahon/Feohanagh, and the reception was held in the Listowel Arms Hotel in Kerry. The couple will reside in Coolyroe.

Congratulations and best wishes also to Kevin O’Connor son of Mary and Moss, Grouse Lodge, Kilcolman, and Jade Heywood who celebrated their wedding in Sanctuary Cove Golf Resort Gold Coast Australia on Saturday April 12^th.

Congratulations to the pupils of Coolcappa National School who received the sacrament of Holy Communion in Saint Kyran’s Church Coolcappa on Saturday May 3^rd.

Kitty O’Doherty Newcastle West and her friends collected a total of €5,050 on Daffodil Day Friday March 28^th. Well done to all who helped out and who contributed to the total which will be used in the fight against Cancer.

Monaleen defeated Saint Kieran’s by 2-10 to 0-13 in Round 1 of Group 2 of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship at Askeaton Gaelic Ground’s on Saturday May 3^rd. It was a very closely contested encounter with never more than 4 points separating the teams. The sides were level at half time 1-5 to 0-8, and it was this goal rather easily conceded that won the day for Monaleen. TEAM: John Greaney, James Windle, Paudie McCarthy, Brendan McCarthy, Sean Windle, Patrick Windle, Michael Flynn, Anthony Molyneaux, 0-10 Mossie Shine, Jack Ben Harnett, 0-1 Jonathan Ruttle, 0-1 Johnny McCarthy, 0-1 Danny Colum, Chris Madigan, Ian Mackessy, Subs Darragh Treacy, Ray Cahill.

Roisin Ambrose, Ardagh, and Old Mill ladies club was a member of the LimerickU-14 Ladies team that defeated Tipperary by 6-8 to 5-7 in the Munster C Final in Cappamore on Saturday May 3^rd.

The club had no winner in the Limerick GAA Club Draw for April held on Saturday May 3^rd on Limerick Live 95 FM. The May draw will be held on Saturday 31^st May.

The Club are holding their scrap metal collection on this coming week-end 16^th /17^th /18^th May.

We congratulate our two local referees Pat King and Donie Wallace, who took charge of the two Desmond Cup semi finals played in Clounreask, Askeaton on May 2^nd and 3^rd. Pat also took charge of the Desmond Youths Cup Final at the same venue on Bank Holiday Monday May 5^th.

Creeves Celtic lost 3-0 at home to Abbeyfeale Utd B in Division 2 of the Desmond League, on Sunday May 4^th. Creeves Celtic B lost 5-0 away to Glin Rovers B in the Division 3 League Cup Group A game.

Carrig Celtic B played two matches in the Division 3 League Cup Group B and picked up four points with a win and a draw. They defeated Saint Ita’s B 2-1 away with goals from Cathal O’Sullivan, and Brian Byrnes, and they drew 1-1 at home to Shannonside B.

Well done to Draíocht who represented Limerick in the All Ireland Secondary Schools Talent Show Final at the University Concert Hall in Limerick on Saturday April 26^th. They were the only teenage group of students from the Desmond College, Newcastle West to represent Limerick in the final. They were one of ten acts in the final from a total of 625 who entered the talent show.  It was shown on TV3 on Sunday May 4^th, and the group would like to thank everybody for their support along the way. The money donated went to the Irish Cancer Society Community Service. The six members who are all from West Limerick are Emma Roche, Brian Hartnett, Laoise Curtin, Diarmuid Curtin, Pa Moriarty, and Jack O’Connor, from Kilcolman.

Congratulations to Conor Daly, Kilcolman and Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton, who came second in his category at the annual SCIFEST competition in LIT on Friday May 1^st.

Congratulations to Gearoid Walsh and Rose, Kilrodane, Ardagh, who were awarded 2^nd in the category of Best Young Dog Handler at Limerick Animal Welfare’s Show which took place on Saturday May 3^rd as part of the River Fest Celebrations.

Congratulations to Donie Donovan, and James Bridgeman, who were prizewinners at the card game held in Monagea Hall on Wednesday April 30^th.

Congratulations to Peg Mulvihill, and Jim Lynch who were prizewinners at the card game held in Shanagolden Hall on Friday May 2^nd.

Congratulations to Paddy Donovan Glenastar, Ardagh, who was third in the All Ireland Bone Playing Competition held in Abbeyfeale on Monday May 5^th.

Congratulations to the Desmond Flower Club Newcastle West who recently celebrated their 20^th Anniversary at a dinner in the Woodlands Hotel Adare. Moira Donovan from Kilcolman was one of the founding members, and Noreen Dillane Kerrikyle is the present Secretary of the club.

The Parents Association of Saint Molua’s School Ardagh would like to thank all who supported the recent fundraising cooking demonstration held in the local community centre.  A total of €3,000 was raised which will be used to commence a Book Rental Scheme in the school. The school would like to thank the local Development Association for their very generous donation on the night.

Ardmoyle ghost estate in Carrigkerry is to be included in the new national €10 million fund for unfinished estates. Minister for Housing and Planning Jan O’Sullivan from Limerick is in charge of this fund and last February she visited the site and met some of the local residents. A total of €88,500 has been awarded plus €30,000 from Limerick County Council and €15,000 of an insurance bond. This brings the total to be spent to €133,500, which should make a real difference to the lives of the people who reside there. The cost of installing the sewerage scheme is reported to be around €120,000.The local people would like to acknowledge the work that was done by Stephen Goulding Carrigkerry local Election Candidate, and Councillor Michael Collins, Newcastle West, and others in securing the above total.

West Limerick Resources held a public meeting to outline the threat to their future and possible closure in the Courtenay Lodge Hotel, Newcastle West on Wednesday May 7^th. The meeting chaired by Margaret O’Shaughnessy from Foynes outlined the government’s proposed changes under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 and their future involvement in delivering local supports and funding to communities.  WLR Chairperson Tom Madigan from Rooskagh made a passionate plea to the large attendance to rally behind the company who has delivered support, services and funding to all parishes within West Limerick and its catchment area.  He asked people to seek the support of their politicians to deliver the message to our Government that the Leader programme delivered by WLR has been successful for the past 21 years and needs to be left alone to continue the work they specialize in.

The Holy Rosary will be recited each evening of May at 7pm at Churchtown Grotto, Newcastle West.

Saint Kieran’s Bord Na Nóg are holding their Church gate collection in Ardagh, Coolcappa, and Kilcolman on this coming week-end 17^th /18^th May. The club would like to thank everybody who supported the collection taken up in Carrigkerry on Sunday May 4^th.

The annual parish clerk’s collection will be taken up in Ardagh/Carrigkerry this coming Saturday/Sunday May 17^th and 18^th. Please be generous with your donations to show your appreciation for the work being done on a daily basis.

Old Mill ladies football club are holding a number of fundraising events in preparation for their trip to the All Ireland Feile Na Nóg Finals in Roscommon on 27^th/28^th June. The U-14 girls are representing Limerick and funds are needed to finance the trip. The club are holding a walk/run on Sunday 18^th May along the Great Southern Trail from Newcastle West to Ardagh, commencing at 11am at Gaelscoil O Dogháir, and sponsorship cards are available. A Table Quiz will be held in Neary’s Bar Ardagh on Saturday 24^th May.  A Clothes collection on June 10^th and a Table Quiz in The Silver Dollar Bar Newcastle West on Friday 20^th June. All support will be appreciated.

There was a nice piece about John Hunt from Athea, in Weeshie Fogarty’s Column in The Kerryman paper last week. He is a great ambassador for Gaelic games and our country and still very involved in life in Chicago, well into his nineties.