By Tom Aherne
Aidan O’Connor from Carrigkerry was a guest on Limerick Live 95 in the County programme on Saturday morning last. He was being interviewed about his love for song writing for the Eurovision and his latest entry which will represent the Czech Republic at Stockholm in the first semi-final in May. Aidan is an English teacher in Dublin and over the years he has built up a large amount of contacts involved in the Eurovision Song Contest and he has written the lyrics for 25 songs for various countries. He has had two second place finishes in the national contests in Malta and Lithuania before winning in the Check Republic. Aidan’s song I Stand will be performed by Gabriella Guncikova and wouldn’t it be great if it won the contest.
Congratulations and best wishes in the future to Michael and Birdie O’Connor, Ballingarry who recently celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Michael from Carrigkerry and Birdie from Athea, held a family celebration in Charleville, to mark the special occasion.
Good Friday was dry and windy and ideal for Team Limerick Clean Up 2 which was held throughout the city and county from 10am to 1pm. The event was even more successful than last year with more people and communities getting involved. Well done to our own local people and communities who organised clean ups. Cleanliness is next to godliness goes the old saying.
Fr Tom Mangan was a participant in the Ballyneety Golf Club’s Strictly Come Dancing fundraiser which was held at the South Court Hotel. The Glensharrold native is the current Parish Priest in Donoughmore/ Knockea and his Irish dancing background came in handy. The fundraiser raised a lot of money for the club and it was an outstanding success.
The following are the Lottery results from Neary’s Bar, Ardagh on Monday March 21st. The numbers drawn were 15,16,18,24, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners: €60 Ann O’Connor, c/o Peadar’s. €60 Ita Liston, c/o Curley’s. €60 John Dineen, c/o Neary’s. €30 Séan and Oisin Ryan, Ardagh. €30 Sheila, and Mike, c/o Neary’s. €30 Patrick Mullins, Ardagh. Next week’s Jackpot will be €11,600 and the draw will be held in Reens Bar, Ardagh.
Saint Kieran’s defeated Castlemahon by 2-13 to 2-8 in the West Senior Football Championship Quarter Final at Newcastle West on St Patrick’s Day.
The club presented the players with their U-21 and Minor football medals won in 2015 at Moore’s Bar, Carrigkerry on Saturday March 19. Johnny McCarthy and Sean McSweeney did the honours. A presentation was made also to former chairman John Ryan to show appreciation for his work over the last eight years.
The latest edition of the Green and White magazine, was distributed to the primary schools before the Easter break. It is another very interesting publication with lots of news views and interviews. The award winning magazine contains photographs of Ardagh NS boys and girl’s teams, as well as Kilcolman NS team who won their division last year
Carrig Celtic defeated Pallaskenry 7-2 away in Round 3 of the Desmond Cup on Sunday March 20. Seanie King, and Ray Cahill, scored three goals each and Brodie O’Connor added the other. Creeves Celtic defeated Adare Utd 3-2 at home in the Quarter Final of the Reidy Cup with Seamus Mangan, scoring all three goals. Old Mill gave a walkover to St Ita’s in Division 2 of the Desmond League. In Division 1 of the Desmond Ladies League, Carrig Celtic lost 4-1 away to Charleville, with Ellie Moloney scoring their goal. Kilcolman Rovers lost 2-1 at home to Askeaton.
Congratulations to St Kieran’s participants who did the club proud at the Irish Night Finals in Askeaton on Saturday March 12. Cian Ward won gold in the U-16 Solo Irish Dance, James O’Sullivan, and Adam Ward won gold in the U-12 Group Irish Dance, Mya Bridgeman won silver in the Solo Irish Dance and Mya, Eileen Collins, Cliodhna Heffernan and Jack Bridgeman won silver in the U-16 Group Irish Dance.
Coolcappa Music Group have a DVD of their Concert held at Rathkeale House Hotel in aid of the Joanne McMahon Thanksgiving Fund for sale from the following Patsy Greaney 087-2153685, John Moran 087-6555098, Marion Hough 085-7341675 and Sharon Guina 087-9433496.
There are CDs of the Ardagh Church Concert in aid of the Joanne McMahon Thanksgiving Fund for sale, also in Curley’s Shop Ardagh, Olympic Filling Station, Churchtown, and Coughlan’s Supermarket Castlemahon.
A reminder that Trocaire boxes can be returned now to your local church. Please be as generous as possible with your donations which will go to help people in foreign lands who are barely surviving due to wars and drought.
Newcastle West Film Club present Tangerines, in the Desmond Complex on Friday 1st April at 8pm. Refreshments available and the entry fee is € 7. This is the last film of the current season, and the members would welcome your attendance.
West Limerick Singing Club will host a night of songs in remembrance of the 1916 Easter Rising in the Ramble Inn Bar Abbeyfeale on Friday 1st April. The club meet on the first Friday of every month for their normal singing session. All are welcome to attend and enjoy a good night of traditional singing.
The Mass times in Coolcappa/Kilcolman parish will change for the summer months from the weekend of 2nd/3rd April. Mass will be celebrated in St Colman’s Church Kilcolman on Saturday evenings at 7.30 pm, and in St Kyran’s Church Coolcappa on Sunday mornings at 10am.
The Mass times in Ardagh/Carrigkerry parish will change also from the weekend of 2nd/3rd April. Mass will be celebrated in St Mary’s Church Carrigkerry on Saturday evenings at 6pm and in St Molua’s Church Ardagh on Sunday mornings at 11.30am.
The Old Mill Community and Friends are holding a traditional night of music, song and story in aid of the Joanne McMahon Thanksgiving Fundraiser in the Ballintemple Inn, Newcastle West on Saturday 2nd April. The doors will open at 7.30pm and the entertainment will commence at 8pm sharp. All support will be greatly appreciated.
Kilcolman Rovers are holding a fundraising quiz in Peadar’s Bar, Ardagh on Saturday 2nd April at 9.30. Teams of 4, all are welcome and support appreciated.
Ardagh N.S. will hold a used clothes collection from Monday 4th April to Friday 8th April. All support for this fundraiser will be greatly appreciated.
The AGM of the Ardagh Voluntary Housing Association takes place in Neary’s Pub on Wednesday 6th April at 8pm and all are welcome.
A fundraising Bingo Night will be held in Ardagh Community Centre on Wednesday 6th April at 8.30pm. The prize fund will be €2,200 and there will be lots of spot prizes as well. All the proceeds will go towards the Joanne McMahon Thanksgiving fund.
The Old Mill Ladies Football Club are holding a Table Quiz at Neary’s Bar Ardagh on Saturday 9th April at 9pm. They would appreciate your support for the work they do with the ladies of the locality.
The Limerick Diocesan Synod week takes place from Sunday 3rd April to Sunday 10th April. Bishop Leahy has issued an instruction that no mass be celebrated after 11am on Synod Sunday 10th April. As a result Mass will be celebrated at 9am in Coolcappa, and 10.30am in Ardagh.
An exhibition of the work of Jack Donovan will be held in Rathkeale Arts Centre commencing on Friday 29th April. The late Jack, who died in 2014, was brought up in Grouse Lodge by his grandparents after the death of his mother. The exhibition will contain portraits of the 1916 leaders, and the War of Independence soldiers and they were completed from 1969 to 1982. The exhibition will last for a month and it is being organised by his brother Tim in Rathkeale.
The Darkness into Light 5k walk/run in aid of Pieta House will be held on Saturday morning 7th May around Newcastle West. Online registration at https://www.darknessintolight.ie/