By Tom Aherne

Congratulations to Kevin Murphy a native of Glensharrold on his recent photography award. He was named 2015 Portrait Avant Garde Photographer of the Year in London. The competition was open to all the top world photographers. Kevin is the son of Bridie, and Stephen from Glenastar and he resides in Clare and he has received 12 International awards for his photography in 2014. He also lists the following achievements from his well presented web site. Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers (SWPP) Photographer of the Year Nominated 2013. He was nominated as SWPP Photographer of the Year 2012. He was awarded Licentiate of the SWPP in 2012. He has several Gold awards from the SWPP. He was Limerick Camera Club photographer of the year 2011/2012 and Photography Ireland Photographer of the year 2007/2008/2009. It is an impressive list and we wish Kevin continued success.

The following are the Lottery results from Peadar’s Bar Ardagh on Monday January 26^th. The numbers drawn were 2,13,19,22, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows €60 Emma Galvin, Ardagh. €60 Connie Magner, Strand. €60 Eileen, and Siobhán, c/o Fitzsimons Printers. €30 Marian O’Connor, Lisbane, Shanagolden. €30 Dave Connolly c/o Bus Eireann. €30 D and G C/O Denis Greaney. Next week’s Jackpot will be €8,600 and the draw will be held in Foley’s Bar Reens Ardagh.

The Carrigkerry and Glensharrold Wren Groups have held their traditional wren nights in recent weeks in the Flag Floor Rambling House in Glensharrold, Carrigkerry. Large crowds attended and enjoyed the best of music song dance storytelling and feasting. Wren nights are getting rarer with the passing years but the tradition continues on in our locality.

A Rebel Act: Poems that shaped Ireland was shown on RTE 1 on Thursday night last January 29^th. Michael Hartnett the West Limerick poet was included and old footage of Michael and his family was shown. Lines from his poem Farewell to English was read by James Lawlor from Knocknagun, Carrigkerry. Mike MacDomhnaill from Newcastle West also featured.

Sean McSweeney and Anthony Molyneaux, Carrig Celtic were members of the Desmond League team that lost 4-3 to the Kerry League in the Oscar Traynor Trophy competition in Tralee, on Sunday January 25^th. Ray Brouder, also Carrig Celtic was introduced as a substitute in the 73 minute. They lost all three matches and are now out of the competition.

Old Mill lost 3-0 away to Saint Ita’s in the Division 1 League Cup 1^st Round also on Sunday January 25^th. Creeves Celtic lost 2-1 at home to Granagh Utd in the Division 2 League Cup 1^st Round with Jason Ahern scoring their goal. Carrig Celtic B lost 2-0 away to Shannonside FC B in Division 3 of the Desmond League.

The winter edition of the Green and White the Limerick G.A.A.Youth magazine was distributed to National Schools before Christmas. It is another fine publication containing 36 pages of news views and interviews, with a look back at past events. The magazine is packed with photographs including one of Ardagh National School who won the West Limerick Division 1 Camogie title.

The draws for the County Senior Football Championship and the County Intermediate Hurling Championship were made at the County Convention held back in December in Ballylanders. Saint Kieran’s are in Group 2 of the County Senior Football Championship with Adare, Ballysteen, Father Casey’s, Na Piarsaigh, and Newcastle West. In Group 1 of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship they are paired with Caherline, Cappamore, Feenagh/Kilmeedy, Knockaderry, and Mungret. The top three teams in both groups advance to the knockout stages of the championship.

The club held their annual charity road hurling tournament postponed since December in Ardagh on Saturday January 24^th. They would like to thank everyone who participated in the event.

The Ballyguiltenane Rural Journal is for sale in Moloney’s Carrigkerry and in all the local shops. The family of the late Thomas J O’Donoghue published the journal which he had nearly completed before his unexpected death last December. This is the 37^th edition and it is dedicated to his memory. The much admired journal was founded in 1977 and it grew to be one of the most sought after publications each year. The three founding members Thomas J O’Donoghue, Paddy Faley, and Pat Brosnan, have all passed on, and we thank them for the great enjoyment they provided for readers at home and abroad over the 37 years. The 120 page journal contains tributes to all three whose writings were widely admired at home and abroad. The final edition is bound to become a collector’s item, and an early purchase of the journal is advisable.

Community projects within 6km of the Grouse Lodge Windfarm are being invited to apply for money available as part of a new fund provided by the ESB. The windfarm community funds have been developed to build on existing local initiatives and support activity programmes that address local needs and opportunities in relation to energy. SECAD has been appointed by the ESB to manage the administration of the funds. The closing date for applications is February 18^th. More details can be got at www.windfarmcommunityfunds.ie

Saint Molua’s National School Ardagh is now enrolling for the 2015/2016 school year which commences next September. The contact number is 069-76353.

West Limerick 102 Community Radio volunteers are holding a fundraising event to help raise funds for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind which is Ireland’s national charity dedicated to helping persons who are blind or vision impaired. Brendan Laffan who lost his sight at the age of two after developing a brain tumor is a volunteer presenter with West Limerick 102 Community Radio in Newcastle West. His greatest wish is that he would get a guide dog to enable him to live independently and provide company. The volunteers have organized an afternoon tea dance in Fr Casey’s Clubhouse in Abbeyfeale on Sunday 8^th February from 3-6pm with music by Mike Condon

The 23^rd annual West Limerick Set Dancing Club workshop week end takes place in the Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine from Friday 13^th February to Sunday 15^th February. It commences with a music and singing session at 7.30pm, on Friday followed by a céilí at 9pm with music by the Johnny Reidy céilí band

The West Limerick G.A.A.Board All Star Banquet will be held in the Rathkeale House Hotel on Saturday 21^st February.  The Saint Kieran’s club will be receiving no awards for the 2014 year.

Mary Kury will launch her new book about Ardagh Graveyard in Ardagh Hall on Saturday 28^th February following the 7.30pm Mass in Saint Molua’s Church. The book includes a history of the site which includes the Ardagh Church Graveyard, Old graveyard and the new section which opened 20 years ago. Her late father Jerry Mc Mahon published the Headstone Inscriptions of Ardagh Cemetery in 1995 from work he undertook in 1981. Mary has updated all these headstones as well as including the additional headstones over the past 34 years.  She also takes a look at the design of the headstones and the stonemasons who created the carvings on the headstones. The book also includes a photograph of each memorial and historic notes on many of the headstones. It promises to be a great read and a valuable addition to books already written about the parish.