By Tom Aherne

Congratulations and best wishes in the future to Stephen Geoghegan, Grouse Lodge, Kilcolman, Ardagh and Gemma McCoy, Duagh, who were married in Saint Bridgid’s Church, Duagh, County Kerry on Friday July 17. They held their reception in the Devon Inn Hotel.

The death has taken place of Mary Rose McAndrew née Lane, Ballinloughane, Askeaton, who died peacefully in Manchester, England. Reposing at Kieran Madigan’s Funeral Home, Askeaton, on  Wednesday July 15 from 6pm followed by removal to St Kyran’s Church, Coolcappa. Her Requiem Mass was celebrated at St Kyran’s Church, Coolcappa, on Thursday at 12 noon.  Mary Rose was laid to rest in in Lismakeera Cemetery on Thursday July 16.  We extend our sympathy to her daughters Kathleen, Bernadette and son Thomas, grandchildren Rebecca, Emily, Aerin, Jack and Luke, other relatives and friends. May she rest in Peace.

The following are the Lottery results from Peadar’s Bar, Ardagh on Monday July 13. The numbers drawn were 1420,23,26, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows. €60 Katie Curley,

c/o Jack Sheahan. €60 Tom Mackessy, Coolanoran, Ardagh. €60 Ann Relihan, c/o Curley’s. €30 Angela O’Connell, Ardagh. €30 John Duggan, c/o Neary’s. €30 Mike Liston, Glenastar, Ardagh. Next week’s draw will be held in the Thatch Bar, Newbridge and the Jackpot will be €13,400.

Saint Kieran’s defeated Saint Patrick’s by 1-9 to 0-9 in Round 7 of the All County Senior Football League, at Coolcappa, on Tuesday July 7. They will meet Newcastle West, in the final match of the eight team league. Na Piarsaigh, lead the table, with ten points, followed by Drom/Broadford, on eight points, and Saint Patrick’s, on seven points. Father Casey’s and Saint Kieran’s, are each on six points, and Monaleen, on five points. Rathkeale, have four points, and Newcastle West, have two points, but both have two matches to play. The next round of the County Senior Football Championship against Na Piarsaigh, will be played over the second week-end in August. The next round of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship against Feenagh/Kilmeedy will be played over the first week-end of August.

John Hayes, Eoin McEnery, Michael Shanahan, and Dylan Moloney, from the Saint Kieran’s club were part of the Limerick team that participated in the recent Munster U-14 Football Tournament, in Dungarvan.

The Cúl Camp held in Coolcappa, in early July was a great success, with 116 children participating.

Soccer clubs are busy at present preparing for the new season in August. The annual general meetings have been held and plans put in place in preparation for the kick off.

Fr Tim Curtin celebrated Mass in front of a sizeable crowd at Kilbradern Cemetery on Sunday July 12. The day was dull and dry and the grass cut short and the grounds neat and tidy. It was a nice relaxed ceremony with the birds singing in the background and the horses running free in the next field. This was Fr Tim’s first time celebrating this mass, since his arrival and his homily concentrated on names of people in graveyards, and the stories behind each person. We thank Fr Tim and all the people involved in staging the annual mass.

Congratulations to Conor Daly, Kilcolman who received the Gerard McDonnell Perpetual Shield at the Gaelcholáiste Cill Chúrnain awards day in Kilcornan National School.

House sales in Limerick for the month of June were up on last year’s June sales, according to the Property Price Register. The value of the 74 houses sold came to eleven million and prices are set to increase further before the end of the year. Three houses sold around the locality in Kilrodane, Ardagh, The Commons, Ardagh and in Coolcappa, Ardagh.

Charity shops are very much in demand at present and most towns have a few who are doing good business. I received a note from the Sue Ryder shop in Newcastle West outlining the following: Buy one pair of Curtains and get a second pair at Half Price, and all bed linen is half price. We have revamped our kids section. Explore our wonderful range of choice for buying Branded kids/baby clothes at affordable price in Newcastle West. Crafty types – we are raffling a hamper of wool to the value of €50, buy your tickets now.  T-shirts, shorts, jeans & dresses added to the tweenies section – ladies size 6, xs & 8 @ unbelievable value, some new with tags on. You will find Leading brands at purse friendly prices to Sue’s Curvy Closet (Gery Weber, Bianca, Coast, Basler, Fenn Wright Mason).

Are you Debs/Wedding/Horse Racing/Special Occasion bound – check out our fabulous range of leading labels occasion wear without the stinger of a price tag. We are running low in stock & are appealing to the Community to donate the “best” of what they no longer need:  Clothes, Shoes, Bags, Accessories, Jewellery, Unwanted Gifts/Prizes, Curtains/Bed Linen and Bric-a-Brac and plastic/paper carrier bags. We have a superb range of beautiful new handcrafted dolls houses in stock, which make an ideal Christmas Gift.  Ask in store about our Dolls House Savers Club: a deposit secures together with a weekly instalment. Our price range suits all pockets. For regular updates find/friends us on Facebook:   Sue Ryder Newcastle West, Tel. 085-8662855

Saint Swithin’s Day was last Wednesday July 15 and in olden times it was regarded as a very important day in Ireland as regards the weather we got on that day. If it rained the folklore belief was that the following forty days will also be wet. It was dry all day in our locality so we should be spared this rainfall. We had a new Moon on the following day with rain and wind, so the upcoming weather could be interesting. More sunshine and heat is badly needed for outdoor activities.

Macra na Feirme’s Know Your Neighbour Weekend takes place this Saturday/Sunday 25/26 July. A number of branches throughout the country will be holding events, for people to come together to get to know their neighbours. People can find out more about what is taking place, around their locality on knowyourneighbour.ie

Kilcolman Community Creche will be closed for the Summer Holidays from Monday 27^th July, to Friday 7^th August. They recently published an information leaflet, to inform the general public, on happenings there. They would like to thank White Water Development for a development grant of €13,000. A total of € 6,400 was raised from last year’s Golf Classic, held in Rathgoonan, Ardagh. They have impressive plans to enhance and develop the crèche facility, in the coming months. They issued a big thank you to all people, who assisted them in any way to date.

Kilcolman Community Creche Golf Classic will be held on this Friday 24th July from 1pm to 5pm, and on Saturday 25th July from 2pm to 5pm, at Newcastle West Golf Club in Ardagh. A team of 3 people costs, € 150, which includes a meal, and goodie bag. Companies can sponsor a tee box at the cost of € 50, this will ensure your company logo, name and business, will be advertised at a tee box on both days. Individuals can also make a donation to the crèche. To register, advertise, or make a donation, contact Grainne, at 069-60770 or Joanna, on 087-697821. The crèche would also welcome any spot prizes for the event. A family fun evening on Saturday with a bouncy castle, raffle prizes, ceol agus craic, and the golf prize giving will be held at Newcastle West Golf Club, between 7pm and 9pm.

This year’s Foynes Air Show will be held on Sunday July 26th from 1-6pm. It promises to be even more daring than last year’s show which was so successful.

Mass will be celebrated in Knockpatrick Cemetery on Sunday 26th July at 2.30pm and at Clounagh, Cemetery, Reens on Sunday 9th August at 12 noon, and all are welcome.