By Tom Aherne

Congratulations and best wishes to Mairead O’Sullivan, daughter of Peg and Paddy, Carrigkerry West and Mark Doherty who were married in St Mary’s Church, Carrigkerry on Saturday, August 20th.

Congratulations and best wishes to James Kelly, Kerrikyle and Clodagh Neville who were married in St Molua’s Church, Ardagh on Saturday, August 20th.

Congratulations and best wishes to Áine Geaney, daughter of Margaret and Jim, Toureendonnell, Athea and Maurice O’Connor, son of Nora and Pa, Glenastar, Ardagh who were married in St Bartholomew’s Church, Athea on Saturday August 27th.

We extend our sympathy to Fergus Gleeson and family, Coolcappa on the recent death of his father Pat, late of St Nicholas’s parish Limerick. May he rest in Peace.

We extend our sympathy to the relatives of Brenda Duggan, late of Glenastar, Ardagh who died recently in England. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. May she rest in Peace.

Congratulations to Cian Ward, Carrigkerry, representing Cluain Chreadhaill Comhaltas branch, who won the 12-15 age group All Ireland Sean Nós Dancing championship at the recent Fleadh Cheoil in Ennis. Congratulations also to James O’Connor, representing Ardagh/Carrigkerry branch, who was placed third in the 12-18 age group Bodhrán championship.

Nora Madden has retired as Principal of Coolcappa N.S. after 37 years of dedicated service. The Board of Management/Parents held a special Mass and retirement party  for her as a mark of appreciation for her hard work and dedication on Sunday, August 21st. The Mass was celebrated by Fr Tim Curtin and Fr John Duggan, former P.P., at  St Kyran’s Church, Coolcappa followed by refreshments in the Community Centre.  Mary’s family, parents, pupils, past pupils, past Board of Management/Parents and parishioners were in attendance. A number of presentations were made to Mary who is wished a very happy retirement.

The following are the Lottery results from Peadar’s Bar, Ardagh on Monday, August 22nd. The numbers drawn were 2, 5, 21, 25, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners, who received €40 each: Jim Sheehy, Croagh, G and D c/o D Greaney, Joyce Tracy, Ardagh, Maisie and Christy Ardagh, and B and N c/o D Greaney. Next week’s Jackpot will be €8,400 and the draw will be held at the Old Mill Bar.

The Limerick GAA Club draw for August was held in the Limerick Live 95fm studio during the Sports Show on Saturday, August 27th. Congratulations to John Geoghegan, joined with St Kieran’s, who won €250. The next draw will be held on September 24th.

Saint Kieran’s lost to Na Piarsaigh by 3-9 to 2-8 in Round 4 of Group 1 of the County Senior Football Championship at Ballingarry on Saturday August 27. They trailed by 2-4 to 0-5 at half time, and the concession of goals either side of the break cost them dear. TEAM: Ray Noonan, Mossie Shine, Gavin Hayes, Kevin, Meade, Brendan McCarthy, Johnny McCarthy, 1-1 Mike Flynn, Timmy Carroll John Doyle, Donal Nolan, 0-1 Paudie McCarthy, 0-2 Jack Ben Harnett, Seamus Mangan, 0-1 Anthony Molyneaux, 1-2 Diarmuid Crowley. Subs: James O’Connor. 

St Kieran’s play Ballylanders in the final group match in Ballingarry this Saturday 2^nd September at 6.30pm, and they can still qualify for the quarter finals, if they win, and the other results go their way. Saint Kieran’s lost away to Saint Patrick’s by 1-17 to 1-11 in the All County Senior Football League on Sunday, August 21st.

Congratulations to Old Mill Ladies Erin Hennessy, Sophie Hennessy and Roisin Ambrose, who were members of the Limerick U-17 squad who won the A Cup at the All Ireland Blitz held in Dublin on Tuesday, August 16th.

The new junior Desmond soccer League season 2016/17 commenced on Sunday, August 21st with 37 teams participating and local interest will focus on three teams, Carrig Celtic, Creeves Celtic, and Carrig Celtic B.  Carrig Celtic defeated Newcastle West AFC by 2-1 on their return to the Premier League, which has 10 teams. John Doyle and Sean McSweeney scored the goals and this match was played on the previous Friday evening.

Creeves Celtic and Carrig Celtic B will both be in Division 3 which will have only seven teams this season. Their season will commence on Sunday 4^th September. Old Mill have entered no team this season. The Desmond Ladies League will also commence on Sunday 4^thSeptember and Carrig Celtic, Creeves Celtic and Carrig Celtic B will compete in Division 1. Wishing all the local players and teams good fortune and silverware.

Congratulations to Peg Mulvihill and Jim Lynch who were prize winners at the card game held in Shanagolden Hall on Friday, August 19th.

A meeting to form a Heritage Association for the St Kieran’s area, comprising of Ardagh, Carrigkerry Coolcappa, Kilcolman and neighbouring townlands, will be held in the Community Centre Ardagh on this Thursday 1^st September at 8.30pm. The dictionary describes heritage as something inherited at birth and anything that has been transmitted from the past or handed down by tradition. There is an increased interest in our heritage at present and people in other areas are doing wonderful work to preserve it. All are welcome to attend and express their views at the meeting.

West Limerick Singing Club will hold their next monthly singing session on Friday 2^nd September at 9.30pm. All interested people, be they performers or audience members, are invited to attend. The club meet in the Ramble Inn Abbeyfeale on the first Friday of each month and all are welcome.

A fundraising barn dance in aid of the Community Crisis Response Team will be held in the Thatch Bar, Newbridge on Saturday 3^rdSeptember at 9pm. A Barbecue will be held and lots of fun with a bucking bronco. Music by Rougha and DJ Jeremiah and a monster raffle will be held with prizes including a gallon of beer.  Admission is free and more details from 087-9336403 and 085-7377139.

West Limerick 102 FM are holding their next car boot sale and indoor market at the Community Centre, Newcastle West on Sunday 4^thSeptember from 8am. To book a stall contact the Station on 069-66200.The gates open at 7.30am and all the proceeds will go towards the running of the station.

The annual West Limerick Vintage Show will be held at The Thatch, Newbridge on Sunday 4^th September and a fun filled family day out is promised. The brothers of Charity in Foynes will benefit from this year’s event which features vintage cars, tractors and farm machinery displays, a dog show and a wheel of fortune. There will be children’s entertainment including bouncy castles, farm animals, face painting. There will be trade stalls, food and ice cream stands and lots of free parking provided. The vintage exhibitors will have free entry and refreshments on the day and they will receive a special brass plaque to mark the occasion. The entry fee is €5 per person or €10 for a family.

The Robert Kelly Academy of Irish Dance will commence classes in the Community Centre, Ardagh on Monday 5^th September at 7pm. Enrolment of new dancers will take place on the night and the dancing classes will begin the following Monday. All other dancers will resume classes on this night. Classes will resume in the Community Centre, Carrigkerry each Wednesday commencing Wednesday 7^th September at 7pm for step dancing and 8pm for Sean Nós Dancing.

The Ardagh/Carrigkerry Social Club will reopen on Tuesday 6^th September from 2pm to 4pm in the Community Centre, Ardagh. All the usual activities will take place including music, song, dance and Bingo, washed down with a cup of tea. The usual bus service will operate and new members will be made most welcome.

The St Vincent de Paul parish annual pilgrimage to Knock goes ahead on Saturday 10^th September. To book a place please contact John Joe Kennelly on 069-76280

Knockfierna Heritage Society Outing to Clonmacnoise (Pattern Day) and Birr Castle on Sunday 11^th September. Details from Pat O’Donovan 0879977340 or Mary O’Keeffe 087 6990816 and all are welcome.

 

Lucky Numbers Draw

27//08/2016

No’s Drawn: 1,  24,  25,  29. No Winner

Lucky Dips

€20 each:

Dan Griffin, Coole West

1. O’Connor, Templeglantine

Jerry O’Mahony, Markievicz Park

Jerry Brouder, Gale View

Sellers Prizes:  Lillian Fitzgerald & Bríd de Barra

Entrants to draw for €200 at end of month

Pat Nolan, Athea

Kairi Upton, c/o  B. de Barra

Next Draw: 03/09/’16

Venue:  J.P’s Jackpot: €12,700

Winner of €200 Prize Draw

Pat Nolan, Athea

Athea United Soccer

PREMIER DIVISION

Athea Utd (3) 3     Sean Ryan, Cillian O’Connor, Peter O’Connor.    

Newcastle West (0) 1.

We played our first home game in the premier division last Sunday morning with Newcastle West A the visitors to The Vales. The previous Sunday we played well enough away to NCW Rovers but didn’t take out chances but on this occasion we did, especially in the first half in which we built a three nil interval lead. We were missing five of our regular squad thus needing a number of changes, two of which were Ronan Hayes and Sean Ryan who were starting their first game for the club at junior level.

Newcastle West did the early attacking and had a good deal of possession but we weathered this and once we got on the ball and kept it on the deck we began to put some good moves together. Jamie Collins playing in central midfield for this game ensured we kept moving forward and with Sean Ryan on the right of midfield and brother James on the left we were now pressing forward at every opportunity. We were rewarded with the opening goal on eighteen minutes when Jamie played a low ball in from the left which Sean got on the end of and placed the ball under the advancing keeper. It got better five minutes later when Cillian O’Connor got behind their defence to fire a half volley to the net to open his account. Just past the half hour we stretched our lead again with the goal of the game when a weak clearance fell to Peter O’Connor who instantly chipped the keeper from thirty-five yards.  Half time 3-0.

In the second half the visitors came more into the game as we sat back and gifted them possession but having said that they didn’t create any real clear cut chances as such. They did get one back midway through the second half but we dug deep and finished the game strongly and saw out the game for our opening win.

Team: Mark O’Connor, Michael Reidy, Mathew Tierney, Padraig Reidy, Ronan Hayes, Sean Ryan, Shane Mulvihill, Jamie Collins, James Ryan, Cilian O’Connor, Peter O’Connor. Subs used Mark Reidy, Steven McEnery, Dan McMahon.

Referee John Roche.

FIXTURES

Thursday, September 1^st 

U12s home to Abbeyfeale Utd B at 6.45pm

Saturday, September 3^rd   

U10s away to Abbeyfeale Utd B at 1.30pm

U14s home to Broadford Utd B at 12.45pm

Youths home to Pallaskenry at 2.30pm

Thursday, September 8^th  

U12s away to Mountcollins at 6.30pm

 

TRAINING TIMES

U/10s on Tuesdays 7pm to 8pm

U/12s on Wednesdays 7pm to 8.15pm
U/14s Thursdays 7pm to 8.30pm
Youths on Wednesdays 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Juniors on Tuesdays 7.15pm to 8.30pm and Fridays 7.30pm to 9pm.

REGISTRATION

The Registration for the 2016-2017 season remains unchanged from last season –
U/8s, U/10s & U/12s €20 per player.
U/14s €25 per player.
U/16s €30 per player.
Youths €35 per player.

Juniors €50

Underage Family Discount –
There will again be a family discount for families of underage players and for each additional child this will be €10 extra.

NEW SEASON START UP DATES

U14 Boys will commence on Saturday, September 3rd
U12 Boys will commence on Thursday, September 1^st
U10 Boys will commence on Saturday, September 3^rd
Youths will commence on Saturday, September 3^rd

Juniors will commence on Sunday, August 21st

BEST OF LUCK    
After five years of running Brown Joes Bar Tommy O’Grady is moving on. Tommy is a former junior player for Athea Utd and since he has been at Brown Joes has been a great supporter of the club and has sponsored a few of our Last Man Standing competitions. All at Athea Utd wish Tommy and his family the very best in the future.

ATHEA UTD LOTTERY RESULTS FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 29^th         

The results of our weekly lottery draw for Monday, August 29th are as follows –

Jackpot was €6,700.

Numbers drawn 6, 19, 28, 29.

No Jackpot Winner.

Lucky dips to the following – Patrick Langan, Glenagragra. Kathleen Mullane, Glin Road. Kevin O’Keeffe, Rathronan. Michael O’Connor, Ballingarry. Denise Mullane, Lower Dirreen.

Sellers Top of the Town & Paudie Reidy.
New Jackpot €6,800 at Donie’s on Monday, September 5th

Athea GAA

County Intermediate Football Championship:

Thursday August 25:

Athea 1-12    Mountcollins 0-15

Our Intermediates played Mountcollins in the fourth round of the Championship with both sides needing a win to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages. We got off to a flying start and took a commanding lead thanks to six points from Shane Mulvihill, one from Jason Kelly and an outstanding goal by Jamie Collins. After sixteen minutes we led 1-07 to 0-02 and looked to have this game in the bag but we lost our way, Mountcollins came back and by half time there was just a goal between the teams. It was a very close affair in the second half and further points from Shane Mulvihill and Pat Ahern kept our noses in front. Mountcollins kept putting us under pressure and scored five unanswered points to lead by two with minutes remaining. Gerard Ahern narrowed the gap to a point and a free from Shane Mulvihill minutes later had the sides level with time almost up. We had one more chance to win the game but it was not to be and the final score read Athea 1-12 Mountcollins 0-15. Panel: Gerard Collins, Michael Reidy, Matthew Tierney, Shane Tierney, Denis Greaney, Padraig Reidy, Shane Mulvihill, Jonathan Fitzgerald, Jamie Collins, Jason Kelly, Mark Reidy, Gerard Ahern, Kevin Murphy, Pat Ahern, Darren Murphy, Kieran Harnett, Tommy Quaid, Pa Chawke, Neilo Keane, Jason Dalton, Pa Kiely, Dan McMahon &  Jack Denihan.

Fixture:

Saturday September 3:

Our Intermediates will play Adare in the final round of the County Intermediate football Championship on Saturday September 3 at 4.30pm in Tournafulla. All support is greatly appreciated.

Pitch use:

At a time when our new pitch is well established we would hope that our club members make full use out of the high quality surface and goalposts. The more practice that a young player puts in the better they get. With the long evenings and dry pitch there is plenty of opportunity for players to use the pitch for practice in addition to training sessions. Some players are already doing so and the extra practice is serving them well. With the facilities we are developing combined with plenty of hard work and practice we won’t be long improving our results.

Facilities long ago:

Submissions are invited from past members who can remember the contrast between pitches long ago and what the current players have available to them. We will add to our notes the best submission received in the next two weeks where the differences are best articulated. Submissions should be handed in to Rose’s shop/Brouders or emailed to [email protected]

We would hope to invite further entries in the coming weeks on “long ago topics” from writers with good memories.

Athea Coiste na nÓg:

Guess the score:

Athea Coiste na nÓg will be running a “Guess the score” competition for this year’s All Ireland football final between Mayo and Dublin. Lines are €2 each and the winner receives €100. All proceeds go towards underage coaching in the club. All support is greatly appreciated.

Matches:

U12:Athea v Rathkeale

Our U12s travelled to the Bog Garden a few weeks ago to play the home side in a match that had been re-fixed.  Rathkeale were very strong in all areas of the field. Despite this our young team tried very hard and got some fantastic scores in both halves, scoring 3-04 on the night. Even though they were well beaten they battled all the way to the final whistle. Well done all. Team: Donnchadh Barrett, Calum Gleeson, Shauna  Sweeney, Evan Curry, Callum Buckley, Michael Walsh, Lorcan Greaney, Rory O’ Mahony, Cillian O’ Connor, Conor Mullane & Gavin Mulvihill.

Saturday August 27:U10:
The under 10 footballers travelled to Foynes last Saturday for a Tournament. In our first game we played St.Senans, the Foynes/Shanagolden combination and in our second game we played Shannon Gaels the Glin/Ballyhahill/Loughill combination. We had fourteen players on duty including Brid Hunt who had already played in a camogie blitz that morning in Killeedy. Both games were tough encounters with every ball fought for tooth and nail. There were excellent performances from Evan Curry, Sean Twomey, James Hunt, Fionn Histon, Tomas Ahern, Lower Athea (Captain) and Tadhg Ahern.
Team: Timmy O’ Keeffe, Tomas Ahern, Fionn Histon, Ciaran Hunt, Sean Twomey, Tadhg Ahern, James Hunt, Evan Curry, Rory Cleary, Jack Sexton, Jamie Collins, Louis O’ Sullivan, Jim Ahern & Brid Hunt.

Monday August 29:U16:

Our U16s made the long journey to Dooley Park on Monday evening last to take on South Liberties. A great first half performance saw us get some fantastic scores. Andy Ahern and John Sexton scoring seven points between them. Our defense was playing good and Jack O’ Connor in the forwards was causing all sorts of problems for their full back line. Unfortunately we conceded a soft goal just before half time and went in at the break a point down. In the second half the home side were much improved and put the game beyond doubt when they scored two goals after ten minutes. Our boys tried hard till the final whistle but the home side ran out easy winners on the night. Panel: David O’ Sullivan, Joseph Dalton, Shane Ambrose, Jamie O’ Mahony, David O’ Connor, Micheál Dalton, Jason Dillon, Andy Ahern, John Sexton, Brian English, TJ White, Cathal O’ Brien, Brandon Finucane, Aidan Curry, Jack O’ Connor & Gavin Ambrose.

Fixtures:U10s:

Friday/Saturday September 2/3:

Our U10s will take part in a regional Blitz this weekend. Date and venue to be confirmed by text. Gum shields are compulsory. All support would be greatly appreciated.

U16s:Monday September 5:

Our U16s will play Granagh/Ballingarry away on Monday evening September 5 at 6.30pm. Cars leaving the village at 5.30pm. Gum shields are compulsory. All support would be greatly appreciated.

Club Limerick Draw:

The August Club Limerick Draw of 2016 took place at Limerick Live 95FM Sport Programme on Saturday 27thAugust. Listed below are the 20 winners and Lotto draw Result.
1st €10,000, Donal & Italy Kehoe (Ballysteen)
2nd €3,000, Newcastlewest Camogie Club (Newcastlewest)
3rd €2,000, Bobby Sweeney (Ahane)
4th €1,000, William O’Brien (Garryspillane)
5th €500, Edel Graham (Claughaun)
6th €500, Liam, Eileen & Daniel O Callaghan (Ballylanders/Glenroe)
7th €500, John Geoghegan (St Kierans)
8th €500, Ciss Brien (Rathkeale)
9th €500, Tom Costelloe Snr (Croagh/Kilfinny)
10th €250, John Byron (Caherline)
11th €250, Tom Cosgrove (Ballinacurra Gaels)
12th €250, Adrian Cahill (Dromcollogher/Broadford)
13th €250, Paudie Ivess (Cappagh)
14th €250, Sinead, Stephen & Norma Kelly (Dromcollogher/Broadford)
15th €250, G.B. Danaher (Knockaderry)
16th €250, Shane McAuliffe (Fr. Casey’s)
17th €250, Stephen Moloney (Croon)
18th €250, Jimmy & Mairead Walsh (Ballylanders/Glenroe)
19th €250, Eimear O Malley (St.Senan’s)
20th €250, Pat Downey (Feohanagh/Castlemahon)
Lotto Prize €10,000 Number 5, 9, 22 and 32. No winner