By Tom Aherne

The following are the Lottery results from the Thatch Bar, Newbridge on Monday May 11^th. The numbers drawn were 10,18,23,26, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners €60 Niamh Barden, Ardagh. €60 Maurice Harnett, Ardagh. €60 The Girls Glenville, c/o Curley’s. €30 Tom Copse, Ardagh. €30 Patrick Quaid, Carrigkerry. €30 Tom Greaney, Shanagolden. Next week’s draw will be held in Peadar’s Bar, Ardagh and the Jackpot will be €11,600.

Congratulations to Gerard Liston, Coolcappa, who received the Best Actor in a supporting role award at the All Ireland Drama Award Festival in Athlone. He played the part of Fr Rice in Trad in the Shoestring Theatre Company’s production which also won the the Abbey Theatre Award to stage the play at the venue on this Thursday Friday and Saturday night.

Congratulations to the 31 boys and girls from Coolcappa/Kilcolman who received the Sacrament of Confirmation in Saint Kyran’s Church, Coolcappa on Thursday May 14^th.

Congratulations to the pupils of Carrigkerry N.S. who received their First Holy Communion in Saint Mary’s Church Carrigkerry on Sunday May 17^th.

Congratulations and best wishes to Bridget Ahern, Knockfinisk Carrigkerry who celebrated her 60^th birthday with family and friends in the Real McCoy Bar, Glin on Friday May 8^th.

Congratulations and best wishes to Mary McCarthy, Duckateen, Ardagh Road who celebrated her 80^th birthday with family and friends in the Devon Inn Hotel, Templeglantine on Sunday May 10^th.

Congratulations to Tom Neary and John Sheehy who were prize-winners at the Flag Floor card game held on Wednesday May 6^th. Congratulations to Jim Dalton and Francis Woulfe, who were prize-winners at the card game held in Rathkeale Community Centre on Wednesday May 6^th. Congratulations to Jim Holland and Sean Moriarty and Jack Woulfe and Mike Robinson who were prize-winners at the card game held in Shanagolden Hall on Friday May 8^th.

Carrig Celtic have been relegated from the Premier Division of the Desmond League after finishing second from bottom after completing their 18 match programme. They lost 6-2 away to Newcastle West on Friday May 8^th with Podge McCarthy and Dean Liston scoring. They defeated Broadford Utd 4-3 at home on Sunday May 10^th with Ray Cahill, Ray Brouder, Shane O’Connor, and Podge McCarthy scoring. They won five drew one and lost twelve matches finishing on 16 points and along with Athea Utd will play in Division 1 next year.

Congratulations to Creeves Celtic players Robert Bradley, Brian McCarthy, Darragh O’Connor, Adam Kerins and Dominic Kerins, who were part of the Askeaton team that defeated Newcastle West Rovers 3-0 in the final of the Desmond U-17 Cup  played in Clounreask on Sunday May 3^rd. Pat Duggan the former Villa Rovers player was part of the management team.

Saint Kieran’s lost to Ballysteen by 3-15 to 0-7 in Round 2 of Group 2 of the County Senior Football Championship at the Bog Garden Rathkeale on Saturday May 9^th. It was a night to forget for the club and supporters when everything that could go wrong went wrong. The team were hit by injuries and black cards, and could not match the pace and physical power of their opponents from the 20^th minute of the game when the teams were level at four points each. Ballysteen led by 0-8 to 0-4 at half time but the third quarter saw them held scoreless as their opponents piled on the scores. They finished with fourteen players following a black card when they had all their sub allocation used up. TEAM: Patrick Histon, Kevin Meade, Paudie McCarthy, John O’Connor, Brendan McCarthy Johnny McCarthy 0-1, Shane Lynch, John Doyle, Darragh Treacy, Niall O’Shea, 0-1 Donal Nolan, 0-2 Diarmuid Crowley Seamus Mangan, Sean Mc Sweeney 0-3 Anthony Molyneaux, Subs Jack Ben Harnett, Ray Cahill, Sean Windle, James Hough, Michael Windle. Brian Crowley. Ballysteen defeated them also in the West Junior B Football League by 2-15 to 0-2.

The Limerick GAA Club draw for May was held at Limerick Live 95FM on Saturday May 9^th The Saint Kieran’s club had no winner. The next draw will be held on Saturday 30^th May

The death has taken place of Arthur Spring, the golf course designer, from Tralee. He was the eldest son of the All Ireland winning captain and long time Labour TD Dan Spring. He was a brother of Dick the former Tánaiste and Labour leader and father of Arthur the sitting TD for North Kerry and West Limerick.  He was a GP and a former golf professional and he was aged 70 years. He was one of the country’s foremost golf course designers and he was responsible for the Newcastle West Golf Course in Rathgonan, Ardagh. He was laid to rest in Rath Cemetery Tralee and may he rest in Peace.

The death has taken place in Dublin of Tom Woulfe, a native of Beale, County Kerry who successfully campaigned for the end of the controversial rule banning members of the GAA playing ‘’foreign games’’. He campaigned hard for many years until Rule 27 was dropped at the Annual GAA Congress in Belfast in 1971. He was a former Government civil servant and he played an active role in the Civil Service Football Club in Dublin. He was aged 99 years and a game changer who led the campaign to end the ‘’Ban’’. He was much maligned for his efforts but never backed down until he gained his goal and the respect of many within the association around the country. May he rest in Peace.

West Limerick 102 FM Community Radio came on air on Sunday, May 15^th 2005 and they will celebrate ten years on air on this Saturday 23^rd May from 2pm to 5pm at the Studio in Newcastle West. All are invited to attend and to join in the fun and games and to enjoy this milestone in the stations history. We congratulate everybody and the many people from the locality who has been involved in the success story to date. It has given listeners so much enjoyment that it is hard to recall how limited a service we had before it went on air. We wish all at the station continued success and may it soar like the lark pictured on its logo well into the future.

The Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy will administer the sacrament of Confirmation to 5^th and 6^th class pupils of Ardagh and Carrigkerry in Saint Molua’s Church, Ardagh on Wednesday 27^th May at 10,30 am.

The annual St Pio National Pilgrimage to Holy Cross Abbey near Thurles will take place on Sunday 31st May. A coach will leave from the Market Yard Newcastle West at 9.30 am. Contact Pat Dalton for additional information and booking on 069-62306

The pastoral area trip to Knock which includes Ardagh/Carrigkerry parish will take place on Sunday 14^th June. People who are interested in the trip are asked to contact the parish office in Newcastle West on 069-62141

The Saint Kieran’s GAA Cul Camp will run from Monday 29^th June to Friday 3^rd July from 10am to 2,30pm in Coolcappa grounds. The camp is open to primary school children aged six to thirteen years and an action packed and fun filled week is promised. The cost is € 55 per child, second child € 45, third and fourth child € 40. Bookings and further details: www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie