By Tom Aherne

The Joanne McMahon Thanksgiving Fundraising events are coming to a close after an action packed four months. To date a large amount of money has been raised for the Burns Unit of Saint James’ Hospital Dublin. The amount of goodwill shown towards the fundraising has been amazing and the total collected to date amount to around €120,000. With over fifty events held throughout West Limerick and all over the World it shows that community spirit is still very much alive when the need arises. The next big event will be the presentation of the cheque to the Burns Unit of Saint James’ Hospital Dublin on Friday 10th June in Castlemahon Community Hall.

Congratulations to Old Mill ladies team and management who won the County U-14 Féile competition on Saturday April 16. They will now represent Limerick in the All Ireland Féile Competition, later in the summer. PANEL: Niamh Foley Captain, Ali Rose Ambrose, Ciara Brouder, Amy Colbert, Danielle Donovan, Emma Donovan, Niamh Enright, Mia Forrestal, Leah Hayes Coen, Iris Kennelly, Ciara Kelly, Aoife Lee, Sophie Liston,  Róisín Mann, Katelyn Meade, Eibhlin O’Connor, Ciara Ryan,  Mairéad  Ryan,  Niamh Sparling, and Megan Brodigan, and Emma Brennan, who were injured and unable to play on the day.

The feedback from the recent three day Synod held in Limerick has been very positive and people can read all about it in The Synod Script which was compiled by the Limerick Diocese to inform their followers of the results of their deliberations. Copies were available in the local churches and the Limerick Leader and Limerick Post newspapers. We thank all the local delegates from Ardagh/Carrigkerry and Coolcappa/Kilcolman, for their input and feedback.

The death has taken place at her residence on April 18th of Josie O’Sullivan (Nee O’Connell) Toureendonnell, Athea, and late of Knockanure, Co. Kerry. She lay in repose at her home on Wednesday April 20th from 5pm to 8 pm. Arriving to St. Bartholomew’s Church, Athea, on Thursday morning for 12 noon Requiem Mass. Burial took place afterwards in Templeathea Cemetery, Athea.  We extend our sympathy to her loving husband Patsy, sons Dan (Glensharrold Carrigkerry) and Liam, daughters Joan, Mary, Martina and Ann Marie and their families, relatives and friends. May she rest in Peace.

The following are the Lottery results from Neary’s Bar, Ardagh on Monday April 18th. The numbers drawn were 5,14,29,30, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows €60 Joan Molyneaux, Ardagh. €60 Patrick and John Woulfe, Dunganville. €60 Jim Davis, Glenagore, Athea. €30 Paddy and Kay Daly, Ardagh. €30 Anne Dalton, Athea. €30 Mary Woulfe, Dunganville. Next week’s draw will be held at Foley’s Bar, Reens, Ardagh, and the Jackpot will be €12,400

Saint Kieran’s defeated Mountcollins after extra time by 2-18 to 2-17 in the West Senior Football Championship semi-final at Ballingarry on Saturday April 16th.

Alva Neary from the Old Mill Club was a member of the Limerick ladies team that defeated Wicklow by 0-14 to 2-6 in the National Football League Division 4 semi- final in Stradbally on Sunday April 17. They will play Antrim in the final on Saturday 30th April.

Johnny McCarthy, Darragh Treacy, and Sean McSweeney, 1-3, were members of the Limerick senior football team that defeated Tipperary by 1-8 to 0-7 in Ballylanders, at the opening of Frank B Dineen Park on Sunday April 17th.

Noel Callinan from St Kieran’s was a member of the Limerick minor team that defeated Tipperary by 3-8 to 0-11 in the Munster Minor Football Championship playoff round in Thurles on Wednesday April 20th.

Saint Kieran’s defeated St Patricks by 4-11 to 3-10 in Group 1 of Round I of the County Senior Football Championship at Askeaton Gaelic Grounds on Friday April 22. They trailed by one point at half time, but dominated long periods of the second half to get their season off to a good start. The concession of three goals, and a total of 11 wides may be a cause for worry in future matches. TEAM: Ray Noonan, Brendan Mc Carthy, Gavin Hayes, Kevin Meade, Mossie Shine, 1-0 Johnny McCarthy, Michael Windle, Darragh Treacy, 0-1 Mike Flynn, Jack Ben Harnett,0-2 Paudie Mc Carthy, 0-1 James O’Connor, 0-1 Seamus Mangan, 0-1 Sean McSweeney, 2-4 Anthony Molyneaux, 1-1. Subs John Doyle, Killian Enright. Management Mikey Greaney, Noel Broderick, Pat Dalton, and trainer John Dillon.

Carrig Celtic lost out 4-1 away on penalties to Rathkeale in the Desmond Cup quarter final on Sunday April 17. The teams finished 2-2 after extra time, and Ray Cahill and John Doyle scored their goals. Carrig Celtic defeated Askeaton 5-2 away in Division 1 of the Desmond League, the previous Friday evening. Podge Mc Carthy, 3 Seanie King, 2 and Ray Cahill scored their goals.

Creeves Celtic defeated Adare Utd 4-3  at home in Division 2 of the Desmond League on Sunday April 17 with goals from Paul O’Connor, Jason Ahern, Seamus Mangan,  and Mark Hennessy. They lost 5-4 at home to St Itas on the previous Friday evening. Seamus Mangan, 2 Mark Hennessy, and Brian Nash scored their goals.

Carrig Celtic B lost 6-0 away to Ballingarry B in the Division 3 League Cup Group A.

Creeves Celtic lost 3-1 at home to Ballingarry in the Ladies Desmond Cup semi-final with Maireád Ní Chomain scoring for them. In Division 1 of the Desmond Ladies League Carrig Celtic lost 4-3 at home to Askeaton, with Ellie Moloney, Aoife King, and Michelle Brouder, scoring their goals.

Congratulations to Peg Mulvihill and Marie Wrenn who were prize-winners at the Rathkeale card game held on Saturday April 16th

The welcome singing of the cuckoo has been heard around the district in the past few weeks giving a lift to the older generation. In olden days the arrival of the cuckoo signalled the start of summer and the prospect of warm sunny weather. In farming circles it meant that the long winter months were left behind and the animals could be released from their houses and left out on to the fields for new grass. We welcome the cuckoo and the swallows and hopefully lovely sunny weather after one of the wettest winters on record.

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, Kilcolman 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. Included are Con Colbert, Athea, Sean Finn, Rathkeale, Tim Madigan, Shanagolden, Sean Wall from Bruff and Edward Daly from Limerick. The exhibition will last for a month and it is being organised by his brother Tim in Rathkeale.

A Golf Classic in aid of the Joanne McMahon Thanksgiving Fundraiser will be held at Newcastle West Golf Club in Ardagh on Saturday 30thApril. Teams of three will cost €150 and for more information contact Mike O’Connor on 086-8531860.

The first Holy Communion ceremony will be held in St Kyran’s Church, Coolcappa on Saturday 30th April at 11am. The first Holy Communion ceremony will be held in St Mary’s Church, Carrigkerry on Saturday 7th May. The first Holy Communion ceremony will be held in St Colman’s Church, Kilcolman, on Saturday 14th May at 11am. The first Holy Communion ceremony will be held in St Molua’s Church, Ardagh on Saturday 21st May.

The Irish Cancer Society will benefit from this year’s Barrington’s Hospital Great Limerick Run on Sunday 1st May. An estimated 40,000 people will be diagnosed each year with cancer and the society relies almost entirely on the generosity of the public to fund their wide range of life changing services for people affected by cancer. For further information about the Great Limerick Run, visit www.greatlimerickrun.com.

A Get Together for people who attended the three second level schools in Newcastle West from 1971 to 1976 is being organised for Friday 3rd June in the Ballintemple Inn. The three schools were the Convent, Secondary (Jim Breen’s) and the Vocational. Now forty plus years later plans are being put in place to recall past pupils and school times. People who are interested can contact any of the following before Friday 13th May. Nuala (Walker) Browne at 086-6017936, or Betty (Kiely) O’Brien, at 087-6421959, or Eugene O’Doherty, at 086-8440536

The West Limerick Vintage Club are holding their annual vintage road run on Sunday 1st May. They will gather at Rathkeale House Hotel for Registration including tea and refreshments from 11.00 am with the separate car and tractor runs departing at 12.00 noon. The air will be full with the noise of old engines and the talk will be of machinery and memories as West Limerick Vintage Club (www.westlimerickvintageclub.com) organise Josie’s Run to raise funds for The Butterfly Club.  The vintage run will commemorate the memory of Josie Conroy who was a great supporter of the Club and was also a keen vintage enthusiast who was well known at vintage events throughout the country with her husband Bill.

The Butterfly Club (www.butterflyclub.ie) does outstanding work for children with special needs aged three years and up from all areas of Limerick whilst providing respite for their parents/guardians. They currently work with over 60 children from across the County and have a waiting list for further families who need their support. They are a totally voluntary run club with one of their primary aims being to provide respite to the parents of these children.

The vintage club welcome support at The Rathkeale House on Sunday and all vintage cars, tractors, motorbikes and commercials are welcome to participate and modern vehicles are also invited to partake in the run. The vehicles will be having a midway stop at Josie’s home village of Knockaderry where there will be musical entertainment at the hall, and who will also very kindly provide tea and refreshments. They will then return to The Rathkeale House where lunch will be available for anyone who wishes. For more information please contact Gerry on 087-6995904.