By Tom Aherne

Congratulations and best wishes to Nicole Copse, daughter of Joan and Timmy, Glensharrold, Carrigkerry who celebrated her 21st birthday with family and friends, at the Ballintemple Inn, Newcastle West on Friday November 18.

The death has taken place of Emily Cussen, née Noonan, Cois Temple, Newcastle West, on Tuesday November 15. She lay in repose at Reidy’s Funeral Home, Newcastle West on Friday from 6pm to 8pm, arriving at Newcastle West Church on Saturday for Requiem Mass at 11.30am followed by burial afterwards in Churchtown Cemetery. We extend our sympathy to husband Joe, daughters Katie, Nicole, Emma and Ellen, parents Denis and Teresa Noonan, sisters Denise (Creedon) and Valerie (Corbett), grandmother Mary Hunt, mother-in-law Kathleen Cussen, Ballyneety, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. May she rest in Peace.

We extend our sympathy also to the Noonan family of Gortboy Newcastle West, on the death of Mairead, née Quilty, peacefully at her residence on Saturday November 12. Her husband Michael was a former principal of Ardagh N.S.

The death has also taken place of David O’Connor, Glensharrold and we will have full details next week.

The following are the Lottery results from Peadar’s Bar Ardagh, on Monday November 14. The numbers drawn were 5, 10, 19, 30, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who won €40 each, John Mullins, The Cross Ardagh, Joan Molyneaux, The Cross Ardagh, Jean Browne, Glenville, Mary O’Brien, Ballyhahill, and Martin Kenrick, Ballyine Carrigkerry. Next week’s Jackpot will be

€10, 800 and the draw will be held in Foley’s Bar, Reens.

Saint Kieran’s defeated Pallasgreen by 1-7 to 0-4 in the County Minor B Football Championship Final at Clarina on Saturday afternoon last, and we will have a full report next week.

The club held their AGM in Ardagh Community Centre, before a good attendance on Friday November 18. Chairman David Woulfe, welcomed all and extended sympathy to the family of David O’Connor, a former player and selector with the club. Over the two hours, all the reports were read and discussed. A proposal to put in place an Astro Turf all weather pitch, in Ardagh was aired and discussed at length and a follow up meeting will be held in January. The following officers were elected: Chairman David Woulfe, Vice-Chairman Patrick Windle, Secretary Ivan Neary, Ass-Secretary Owen Hayes, Treasurer Tom Harnett, Ass-Treasurer Mike Windle, PRO Owen Hayes, Children’s Officer Deirdre Ambrose, Irish Officer John Ahern, Health and Wellbeing Officer Sean Windle.

Saint Kieran’s play Granagh/Ballingarry/Banogue in the West U-21 B Football Championship Final at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale, on Friday November 25 at 8pm.

The club are holding their annual Church gate collection on the weekend of December 10/11, and tickets for the Christmas draw are currently on sale.

Carrig Celtic defeated Ballingarry 2-1 at home on Sunday November 13, in Round 4 of the FAI Junior Cup. Sean Mc Sweeney scored both goals and the team will be away to Evergreen of Kilkenny in the last 64. Creeves Celtic defeated St Ita’s 3-0 at home in Round 2 of the Reidy Cup. Tom Shanahan, Seamus Mangan, and Darragh O’Connor scored the goals. In Division 1 of the Desmond Ladies League, Creeves Celtic defeated Broadford Utd 2-0 at home with both goals from Olivia O’Keeffe. Carrig Celtic defeated Askeaton 3-2 at home with goals from Bridget Liston, Stephanie Downes, and Ellie Moloney. Kilcolman Rovers lost 3-1 at home to AK Utd and Ciara O’Donnell scored their goals.

Congratulations to Margaret O’Keeffe, Park, and team members Ann O’Connor, and Mary Madigan, who were the winners of the Ladies Autumn League held recently in Newcastle West Golf Club. Members of the Madigan family presented the Ita Madigan Cup to Margaret, on behalf of the winning team.

Saint Kieran’s Heritage Association held their fifth meeting in the Community Centre Ardagh, on Wednesday November 16, and 13 people were present. The minutes and correspondence, were read by Mary Kury, and matters arising were dealt with. Twelve people went on the day trip to Springfield Castle and other local places of interest, on October 22. It  proved very interesting and received good feedback and another trip will be held in early 2017. Mary compiled details about Skehanagh Bridge, in an article which was very interesting, and all members are asked to get involved in some similar project to build up a local knowledge of places of interest. Ger Greaney spoke about the West Limerick Heritage Magazine, which is being printed at present. It is hoped to launch it on Friday November 25, at 8pm, in Newcastle West Library. It contains 30 articles, of diverse heritage interest, and St Kieran’s area is well represented.

Richard McDonnell, and Mary Kury, were thanked for their work in preparing an application at short notice, to Grouse Lodge Windfarm for funding. The upcoming Pub Quiz at Neary’s Bar was discussed and all members were asked to spread the word and encouraged to attend. A number of other items were discussed including townland signs, which would be helpful for tourists and strangers, to find places more easily. A secure place to store heritage items will be needed shortly as material begins to accumulate.

A plaque will be erected on the wall of the barracks, that the Fenians attacked and pins for lapels will be on sale in the run up to next March. Fifty people will be needed for the re-enactment, and it is hoped to have the street looking similar to 150 years ago. Mary had newspapers on display that were published in 1966 to mark the 100 anniversary of the Fenian Rising. The next meeting will be held in Coolcappa Community hall on Thursday December 8th at 8pm.

The 2016 Feohanagh/Castlemahon parish annual was launched by Con Colbert, (nephew of Con, who was executed on May 8 1916 following the Rising) in the new hall Castlemahon on last Thursday November 17.  Con delivered a nice talk about the life of his uncle and his father who became a TD. The annual will be on sale in the Newcastle West area, and it costs €10

The St Kieran community games AGM will be held in Coolcappa hall on this Thursday November 24, at 8.30pm. New people are needed to enable the youth of the area to participate in as many competitions as possible. It can be rewarding to get involved and seeing the progress made by the competitors can be very rewarding.

The annual Remembrance Mass for people who have died in the past year, will be held in St Molua’s Church Ardagh on Saturday November 26, at 6pm, and in St Mary’s Church Carrigkerry on Sunday November 27, at 11am. Those parishioners who have passed away from the following list will be remembered. Ardagh: Gerard Hayes, Sean Murphy, Mary Ryan, Sr Ann Woulfe, Michael Ambrose, Hannah Dillane, Evelyn Mc Mahon, Mary Murray. Carrigkerry: Michael Foley, Eily O’Connor, Nan Stack, Mary Brouder, Joe Quinn, Sean O’Shea, Mike Flynn, Nora O’Connell. If people have been omitted from the list in error, their relatives are asked to contact the parish office.

John M Feheney from Ballysteen, and a member of the Presentation Brothers in Cork has been in touch with the launch details for his latest book Good Seed, Fertile Soil Religious Vocations in Limerick. Volume 1 contains short profiles of almost 1,000 deceased members of the clergy and religious congregations from the 24 parishes in West Limerick. The launch will be performed by Bishop Brendan Leahy at Rathkeale House Hotel on Saturday November 26 at 7.30pm, and all are welcome.

The Coolcappa Christmas Bazaar will be held in the Community Centre on Sunday December 4. The organisers are now collecting items for the bric-a-brac stall: glass, pottery crockery cutlery costume jewellery candles, vintage clothing ornaments books photo frames, and other suitable items. The items can be dropped off to Rosemary Enright at 085-1688307 or Deirdre Hough, at 087-6415449

Newcastle West and District Lions Club presents an evening with Rebecca Storm, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Newcastle West on Sunday December 4, at 7.30pm. Rebecca has appeared in Blood Brothers, Evita, and Les Miserables, and is a class entertainer. Tickets cost € 25 and are on sale at Tony Hayes, the Square, and from club members.

The official opening of Kilcolman National School extension will take place on Sunday December 11. Mass will be concelebrated by Bishop Donal Leahy in St Colman’s Church at 12 noon. This will be followed by the official opening of the school by Bishop Donal, and light refreshments, will be available. All are welcome to attend and to view this latest upgrade that sees a large modern school now in place.

Ardagh Community Centre are holding a fundraising Bingo night on Wednesday December 21, at 8.30pm. The prize fund is €2,200, and a raffle will also be held on the night. Anyone wishing to donate spot prizes for the raffle can give them to members of the committee. All support will be appreciated and the proceeds will go to help with the running costs of the centre for the year.

A Valentines Ball will be held on Sat Feb 11, 2017 at Rathkeale House Hotel, in aid of Milford Hospice and The Alzheimer Society. The organisers are in the process of assembling a very exciting line-up for the Valentines Ball. The tickets cost €50 each or € 450 per table of 10. It is great value for a fun filled night packed with pop-up entertainment. Tickets are available from Mary Roche Cremins on 087 7473550. All the proceeds go to the two very worthy causes. It is a perfect stocking gift for him or her!