By Tom Aherne

The death has taken place of Bridget (Bridie) Callanan, nee Sheahan, Ardvone, Ardagh, at her residence on Tuesday August 12th. Her sudden and unexpected passing at a too early age has caused widespread shock and disbelief around the locality. She was the eldest of a family of seven, and she was educated locally and spent the majority of her life around Ardagh. She married her husband Denis, from Limerick City and they lived in Dundalk and Shannon, before setting up their home in Ardvone. They were blessed with three children, and Bridie was a homemaker who looked after the needs of all the family. She got great enjoyment from her six grandchildren and from holidays abroad and from visits to family in Australia. Bridie took to Facebook to keep in contact with them also being very skilled on the computer. She enjoyed time spent in the garden and what she produced was a credit to her talents. Bridie was interested in painting and she received much acclaim for her creations on canvas. We met up with her at the recent Art Exhibition in Newcastle West Library where she expressed interest in resuming painting.

She lay in repose at her residence on Thursday August 14th from 5pm, and large crowds attended to pay their respects and to console the family. Her remains arrived at Saint Molua’s Church Ardagh on Friday August 15th for her Funeral Mass at 1pm. Fr Larry Madden and Fr Denis Mullane concelebrated her Funeral Mass on the feast of the Assumption, an important date in the Church Calendar. Family members brought symbols that were important to Bridie’s life to the altar before the ceremony commenced. They also contributed to the readings, prayers of the faithful, offertory gifts and family tribute to Bridie. Fr Madden traced Bridie’s path through life during his homily and appropriate hymns were sung. A large crowd was in attendance to bid farewell to Bridie who will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Bridie was laid to rest afterwards in the new section of Ardagh cemetery. We extend our sympathy to her husband Denis, sons Mark and Tom, daughter Denise, brother Jack, sisters Joan, Carmel, Dympna and Patricia, grandchildren, daughters-in-law, Moira and Nora-Mary, son-in-law Donald, relatives and friends. May she rest in Peace.

Congratulations and best wishes in the future to Brian Fitzgerald, Carrons, Kilcolman and Martina Giltenane, Mungret, who were married in Saint Peter and Paul Church, Crecora, on Saturday August 9th. They held their reception in the Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine, and their honeymoon is being spent in Asia.

Mary and Pat O’Donnell recently retired as caretakers of Coolcappa N.S. after 30 years of dedicated service. Presentations were made to them by members of the Board of Management to mark their wonderful service to the School over the years. They are wished a long and happy retirement.

The officers of the Desmond League Over 35s Tournament recently made a presentation to Martina Tierney from Barna, from the proceeds of this summer’s tournament. The cheque for €1,600 will go towards the fund to get her a motorised wheelchair.

We extend best wishes in the future to all students who received their Leaving Cert results on Wednesday August 13th. We wish them well in their future chosen careers.

The following are the Lottery results from Peadar’s Bar, Ardagh, on Monday August 11th. The numbers drawn were 1,13,21,29, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows. €60 Jimmy O’Donovan, Askeaton. €60 Shane Treacy, c/o Peadar’s Bar. €60 Tom Ambrose, c/o Old Mill. €30 Margaret and Donie. €30 Paddy Pop c/o Peadar’s €30 John and Catherine Noonan. Next week’s draw will be held in Foley’s Bar, Reen’s, Ardagh, and the Jackpot will be €6,600.

Saint Kieran’s defeated Galbally by 1-16 to 1-8 in Round 3 of the Limerick County Senior Football Championship in Bruff Gaelic Grounds on Wednesday August 13th .They played a lot more direct football   and as a result they led by 0-9 to 0-3 at half –time. They overcame strong pressure from their south opponents in the third –quarter to close out the game, with a Donal Nolan goal and late points from Sean Mc Sweeney. They have defeated Adare, and Ballysteen to date and still have to play Fr Casey’s and Newcastle West, in the group stage. TEAM: Patrick Histon, Maurice Shine, Paudie McCarthy, Brendan McCarthy, Diarmuid Crowley, Johnny McCarthy, 0-2 Diarmuid Carroll, Timmy Carroll, 0-1 Gavin Hayes, Jack Ben Harnett, Sean Mc Sweeney,0-5 Ray Cahill, 0-1 Anthony Molyneaux, 0-4 John Doyle, 0-1 Donal Nolan,1-1 Subs Michael Flynn, 0-1 Kevin Meade, John O’Connor.

Saint Kieran’s defeated Tournafulla by 5-11 to 3-11 in the West Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter-Final played in Newcastle West on Wednesday August 6th. They will meet Feohanagh in the semi-final.

Congratulations to the following who were prize winners at the card game held in Shanagolden Hall on Friday August 8th. John Mulvihill and Vinnie Wrenn, Donie Donovan and Anthony McMahon, and Peg Mulvihill and Jim Lynch.

Congratulations to John Mulvihill, and Vinny Wrenn, who were prize winners at the card game held in Ballingarry Hall on Saturday August 9th.

Four years ago, Adam Conlon was diagnosed with Mowat Wilson Syndrome. This is a rare condition which means there is a defect in the DNA strand that affects the major organs in his body – the heart, bowel and brain, and also causes eye deformity. There are only 147 other cases in the world, and it is even more rare to suffer from all four medical issues like Adam, who is also blind in one eye. Another symptom of the disease is a very weak immune system which makes winter particularly gruelling for Adam and his mum, Rebecca Conlon who lives in Ballyloughane, Carrigkerry.

The young boy has been in and out of hospital with bronchiolitis and seizures, and has also been diagnosed with severe epilepsy. Unfortunately, just before Adam turned two, Rebecca lost her husband Joe to a brain tumor which means she is caring for Adam and her eldest son Eamon on her own. Adam requires round-the-clock care including two baths a day and a sterile area in the house where Rebecca can wash his stomach and treat his open wounds. Adam can’t move around himself and needs to be carried by Rebecca or pushed in a wheelchair. While Adam is still developmentally quite young, he is quite tall which makes lifting him particularly hard.

Rebecca set up her fundraising page Help Adam! As she needs to modify her house so that she can move Adam around in his wheelchair without having to carry him. If the mum-of-two is not able to carry out these modifications to her home, Adam won’t be able to safely live there. Like all mums, Rebecca just wants her son at home with her and knowing just how life limiting Adam’s condition is makes having him in a safe and secure family environment all the more important. Adam has gone through 15 surgeries and it is his determination that has kept Rebecca going. “Every second Adam is in my life is a blessing and his love and smiles and determination has kept me going when times have been very hard.”

If you would like to help Adam you can do so by donating to his You Caring fundraising page.

A fundraising Irish night in aid of Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin will be held at the Flag Floor,  Glensharrold on Wednesday 20th August at 9.30pm

National Heritage Week will take place nationwide from this Saturday 23rd to Sunday 31st August. There is a fine selection of events to choose from in Limerick city and county from medieval fairs night time bat walks, classical music, poetry, theatre, traditional music, storytelling, historical re-enactments, local history walks and talks, maritime and coastal events, food fairs traditional skills workshops and archaeological digs. In all there is something for everyone to enjoy and most events are free. In West Limerick there is a lot to see and do including the annual heritage walk which will be held in Knockfierna on Monday 25th August at 7.30pm. In Askeaton Mass to mark the 300th Anniversary of the Franciscans will be celebrated in the Franciscan Friary on Sunday 24th August at 3pm, and a guided tour of the Friary will be held on Sunday 31st August at 3pm.A lot of events will be held in the Desmond Hall in Newcastle West, commencing with a Harp Recital on Sunday 24th August at 4.30pm. A talk about the Courtney Family in Limerick 1600-1630 will be held on Wednesday 27th August at 7.30pm, and a talk about the Whiteboys in Limerick will be held on Friday 29th August at 7.30pm. A Singing Session with the West Limerick Singer’s Club will be held on Saturday 30th August at 3.30pm. A Traditional Music Recital will take place on Sunday 31stAugust at 5pm. Guided tours of the Desmond Hall will be available daily during Heritage week, and it is a very interesting building to visit.

The annual Mass will be celebrated in Ballyine Grotto on Thursday 28th August at 7.30pm.

A bereavement information evening will be held in Milford Care Centre on Tuesday 26th August between 7pm and 8.30pm in the new building’s Education Department. It is a free event and not a counselling session, and will give general information on grief and bereavement to bereaved people their family and friends. Members of the Bereavement Service will be available to answer specific questions. More details from Mary O’Sullivan at m.osullivan@milfordcarecentre or call 061-485800

The Irish Wheelchair Association are holding their annual Church gate collection in Ardagh/Carrigkerry on this Saturday/Sunday 23rd/24th August. Please be as generous as possible with your contributions.