By Tom Aherne

The death has taken place of Aileen Cussen, No 3 Clonreask, Askeaton and late of Ballyegna House, Ardagh, at Abbot Close Nursing Home, Askeaton on Monday April 3rd. She lay in repose at Magner’s Funeral Home, Rathkeale on Wednesday from 6pm followed by removal to Askeaton Church. Her Requiem Mass was concelebrated by Fr Muiris O’Connor and Fr Michael Irwin on Thursday at 12 noon. Family members participated in the readings, prayers of the faithful and the offertory gifts. Her nephew on behalf of the family paid tribute to Aileen before the final prayers. She was the second eldest in a family of five and was predeceased by her brothers John, and Robert. She was eighty years old and she was an independent, determined and spirited person. She had a love for horses when she was young and enjoyed working with them around the farm.

She worked as a hairdresser in Mallow for a number of years before moving to London. With her brother John she was involved in business, up to about twenty years ago when she returned to Ireland. Aileen was well travelled including a visit to Egypt to trace one of her relatives who was lost in the First World War in 1915. Robert and Joseph Cussen, and their neighbour James Lane from Ballyegna, joined the Munster Fusiliers. Joseph survived the war but Robert, died on board a ship on the way to Gallipoli, and is buried in Alexandra, in Egypt, and James was killed by the Turks a few days later.

Aileen was the organiser of events in the family and these brought a lot of enjoyment to all. She was very close to all her nephews and nieces and held in high regard by all. She liked a drink and a smoke and a bet on the horses, and also doing crosswords. Aileen enjoyed independent living up to a few weeks ago when she moved to Abbott Close. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Aileen was laid to rest as the sun shone in Lismakera Cemetery on Thursday April 23. We extend our sympathy to her sisters Ann Holden, and Mary Foley, Kilcornan, brother-in-law Gerry, sister-in-law Kathleen, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends, May she rest in Peace.

We extend our sympathy to Helen and Mike Daly and family, The Commons, Ardagh, on the death of Helen’s mother Ellen Kirwan (nee Doody) Ballingarry at Saint Gobnait’s Nursing Home, Ballyagran, on Tuesday April 7th. She lay in repose at O’Grady’s Funeral Home Ballingarry on Thursday from 6pm followed by removal to Ballingarry Church. Her Requiem Mass was celebrated on Friday April 10th at 12 noon followed by burial in Dromcollogher Cemetery. We extend our sympathy also to her extended family and friends. May she rest in Peace.

We extend our sympathy to Mike and Mary Nestor, Coolcappa on the death of Mike’s sister Christina Dennehy, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, and formerly of Kilquane, on Sunday April 12th. Following repose at her home on Tuesday April 14th her remains were removed to the Church of Our Lady of Good Council Killiney. Her funeral took place on Wednesday after Requiem Mass to Mount Jerome Crematorium. She is survived by her daughters, son, daughter-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, extended family and friends. May she rest in Peace.

The following are the Lottery results from Peadar’s Bar, Ardagh on Monday April 20th. The numbers drawn were 1, 3,8,30, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows: €60 Michael Hartnett, c/o The Ballintemple Inn. €60 J and Conor Keane, c/o Peg O’Connor.  €60 Michael Curley, Ardagh. €30 Mary Keane, c/o Peg O’Connor. €30 Jim O’Connor c/o Bus Eireann. €30 James Mullins c/o Neary’s Bar. Next week’s Jackpot will be €11,000 and the draw will be held in Moore’s Bar.

Congratulations to Ger Guina, Carrigkerry and West Limerick AC who won the club’s five mile feet on the street race on Friday April 17th.

Congratulations to Darragh, and Aine, Nolan, Saint Kieran’s Community Games, who won bronze medals at the recent Swim B Competition held in Askeaton pool.

Carrig Celtic lost 6-5 on penalties at home to Abbeyfeale Utd in the Desmond Cup quarter final on Sunday April 19th. The game finished 1-1 after extra time with Alan Moloney scoring their goal. Creeves Celtic lost 4-1 away to Adare Utd in Division 2 of the Desmond League. Carrig Celtic B defeated Ballysteen 2-1 at home in the Division 3 League Cup with goals from Brian Byrnes, and John Ambrose. Old Mill had no fixture.

Saint Kieran’s defeated Adare by 2-12 to 2-9 in Round 1 of the Limerick County Senior Football Championship at the Bog Garden Rathkeale on Friday April 24th. They led by 0-5 to 0-4 after playing into the scoreboard goals and against the wind at half time. Adare dominated the third quarter and could have scored a few goals only for good defending and the help of the upright. Mickey Lyons scored a cracker of a goal for them in the 47th minute to leave them 1-9 to 0-8 ahead.  This setback roused the Saints and more direct play created space for the forwards to score more freely. Goals from Niall O’Shea, and Seamus Mangan making his senior debut, and a succession of points left them five ahead with time up. Adare hit their second goal to put the issue in doubt but Sean Mc Sweeney kicked the insurance point deep in injury time. It was relief all round when the final whistle sounded after six minutes of added time. It was a patchy performance and a number of issues need to be looked at before they play Ballysteen in Round 2. TEAM Patrick Histon, Michael Windle, John Doyle, 0-1 Kevin Meade, John O’Connor, Johnny McCarthy, Brendan McCarthy, Sean Windle, 0-1 Darragh Treacy, 0-1 Sean Mc Sweeney, 0-6 Donal Nolan, 0-1 Seamus Mangan,1-0 Diarmuid Crowley 0-1 Niall O’Shea, 1-1 Anthony Molyneaux. Subs Shane Lynch, James Hough.

Alva Neary and Mai Kennelly from the Old Mill club were part of the Limerick team that defeated Louth by 2-14 to 3-7 in the National Football Ladies League semi-final at Crettyard on Sunday April 19th. They will meet Offaly in the League Final on Saturday 2nd May.

Fitness classes continue in Ardagh Community Centre each Friday from 7pm to 8pm. The classes   are conducted by Saint Kieran’s player Michael Flynn who can be contacted on 087-2919107.

A reminder to listen in to Sacred Space on West Limerick 102 Radio each Sunday morning from 10am to 11am. John Kealy from Ardagh presents this very interesting religious programme.

Pat O’Donovan will give a talk on May Eve and its traditions at Knockfierna on this Thursday 30th April. The Knockfierna Heritage Society are remembering one of the oldest and feared traditions when evil-doers worked pishogues by putting eggs in hay,  and buried meat in gardens. They took the first water from the well on the early hours of May morning, and the milk from the farmer’s cows by pulling the spancil through the fields.  These happenings plus others put the fear into people, hence the reason for sprinkling of Holy water on the home, livestock, farmyards, gardens, machinery to help ward of this evil which was common throughout West Limerick in times past.  All are welcome.  Meet at the Rambling House, Knockfierna at 7.30pm. Knockfierna is only 6 miles from Adare and near to Ballingarry Village. For further details contact Pat on 087 9977340.

Celebrating its 21st year, the Fleadh by the Feale kicks off on Thursday 30th of April and runs until Monday 4th of May in Abbeyfeale. A weekend full of music, song and dance it is a vibrant and wonderful traditional Irish music weekend. Abbeyfeale town extends a warm welcome to all to join us for what promises to be a great weekend. With a full calendar of events from the famous Busking competition on Friday evening at 7pm, to the master workshops for musicians seeking to fine tune their skills in a range of instruments including Fiddle, Flute, Accordion, Concertina, Banjo and Singing. Open air entertainment is available all through the weekend on the gig rig in the Square and music session take place in most of the pubs in town. Storytelling takes place in St Ita’s Hall with the gifted and entertaining Daisy Kearney at 3pm on Sunday. The All Ireland Bone Playing competitions for junior and senior takes place on Sunday afternoon & Monday evening respectively. The celebrity Concert sponsored by Kostal Ireland brings the iconic Kilfenora Céilí Band to town on Sunday evening at 8pm in Coláiste Íde & Iosef.

Tickets cost €20 and are available from Slice of Life Main Street Abbeyfeale 068 32655, Abbey Tiles Main Street on 068 31109, John O’Sullivan on 086 3165848 and Celine McNally on 087 7697672. Don’t miss out! Further details on the weekend are available at the above numbers or at www.fleadbythefeale.com. A warm welcome awaits you in Abbeyfeale this May Bank Holiday weekend.

We remember the late Maighreád McGrath historian and community worker whose tenth anniversary occurs at this time.