By Tom Aherne

Congratulations to Mike Breen, from the  Saint Kieran’s club who won €500 in the Limerick GAA Club draw, which was held during the sports show,  on Limerick Live 95fm on Saturday May 27.

The following are the Lottery results from the Thatch Bar, Newbridge, on Monday May 22. The numbers drawn were 6,7,10 and 15 and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who won €40 each, Donal and Todd c/o Nora Dineen, Sean Downey Lisgordan, Catriona, and Donal, Dunganville,  Mary Steele, Ardagh,  and Dawn Power, Newcastle West.  Next week’s Jackpot will be €15,800 and the draw will be held at Peadar’s Bar, Ardagh.

Congratulations to the pupils of Ardagh, and Carrigkerry who received the Sacrament of Confirmation in St Mary’s Church Carrigkerry on Tuesday May 23. Congratulations also to the pupils of Ardagh NS who received their First Holy Communion in Saint Molua’s Church Ardagh on Saturday May 20.

Congratulations to Mary O’Connor, Moig, Shanagolden who celebrated her 98th birthday on Tuesday May 30th

Carrig Celtic B were defeated 3-2 by Ferry Rangers in the Desmond Division 3 League Cup final at Clounreask on Sunday May 21. The sides were level 2-2 at half time and Dean Liston scored both goals. Team Liam Ward, John Byrnes, Eoin Moran, Sean Dwyer, Alan Moloney, Liam Upton, Jack Forde, Peter Cregan, Mikey Murphy, Dean Liston, Darren Ward, Subs  Mike Upton, Dara Breen, Dan Barrett, Panel John Greaney, Larry Ward, John Ambrose, Conor O’Shea.

Carrig Celtic had two matches in the Premier Division over the weekend, defeating Newcastle West Rovers 2-1 on Friday and losing 4-0 to Rathkeale on Sunday. Ray Cahill, and Podge McCarthy scored their goals.

Saint Kieran’s received a walkover from Adare in Division 5 of the All County Hurling League, and lost to Rathkeale, 2-16 to 2-6 in the West Junior B Football League.

Caitrín de Bhál a teacher in Kilcolman NS was one of the West Limerick mentors for the inter divisional primary schools camogie competition for the Eithne Neville cup. South Limerick defeated West Limerick by  4-3 to 3-1 in the final played at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick on Thursday May 18.

Congratulations to John Mulvihill and Vinnie Wrenn, who were prize winners at the card game held in Shanagolden Hall on Friday May 19.

Donie Lyons from Dromreask, Glin is receiving good airplay for his new CD The Lovely Banks of Blaine on local radio. It was launched by Nora Butler the renowned traditional singer from Tipperary and it contains 22 tracks.  A total of 14 songs from around his locality and 8 selections of side flute music  are included. The songs include;  The Lovely Banks of Blaine, The Rose of Newtownsandes, Eileen McMahon, Ballyseedy Cross, The Boys of Barr na Sráide, Sweet Kingwilliamstown, Tooralum Tooralum Tee and The Vales of New Dirreen. Thanks to Donie all the local songs and music  will now be preserved well into the future for people to enjoy. The CD is currently on sale in the local shops in Glin, Lyons shop Abbeyfeale, Brouder’s shop Athea, and Moloney’s shop in Carrigkerry. Continued  best wishes to Donie, who is noted for his generosity with his music and songs,  and who is most helpful in supporting events on his latest achievement.

West Limerick 102fm Community Radio  fundraising committee launched their 50/50 weekly draw recently at the station.  Tickets cost € 2 and are available in local shops. All help and support will be appreciated.

Kilcolman NS are holding a fundraising clothes collection, including shoes/runners bags and belts. People can drop off items at the school on Friday June 2 after school, on Monday June 5 from 12 noon to 2pm,and from 6pm to 8pm, and on Tuesday June 6 before school. All support will be appreciated.

The county Limerick Fleadh Cheoil will be held in Kilfinane this coming weekend from Friday June 2 to Monday June 5. Best wishes to all the locals who will be participating.

West Limerick Singing Club will hold their monthly session in the Ramble Inn Abbeyfeale on Friday June 2. All entertainers, and supporters will be made most welcome.

A fund raising céilí will be held in the Con Colbert Community Hall Athea, on Saturday June 3 at 9.30pm. Tea and food served and more details from John Joe Tierney on 087-9963859

Mass will be celebrated in Shanagolden Graveyard on Sunday June 4 at 11am, weather permitting and all are welcome.

Benny Thade McCarthy will hold a Rambling House at Fr Casey’s GAA Clubhouse Abbeyfeale on Monday June 5 from 8.30pm. All entertainers are most welcome to come along and to participate on the night. This is a fundraising night for the Dromcollogher Respite Centre, which was recently renovated. Sr. Bridie O’Sullivan from Carrigkerry is one of the driving forces at the Centre, which provides a wonderful service for the area, and the wider community.

A free workshop for community groups on how to carry out a Community Profile of your area, will take place at the West Limerick Resources Office on St. Mary’s Road on Tuesday, June 6 from 7.30-930pm. Community Profiling involves building up a picture of the nature, needs and resources of a community with the active participation of that community. It is a useful first stage in any community planning process to establish a context which is widely agreed. For further information or to book a place contact Damien Ahern, at West Limerick Resources, on 087 9042477.

Mass will be celebrated in the three Newcastle West cemeteries during the month of June as follows:  Calvary Tuesday June 6 at 7.30pm, Churchtown Tuesday June 13 at 7.30pm, and Famine Cemetery on Tuesday June 20 at 7.30pm.

The Students of VTOS Shanagolden are holding their Annual Art Exhibition at Newcastle West Library from  Wednesday June 7  to Friday June 23. A total of eleven mature students will be displaying the creations they produced from their weekly class with tutor Maureen Barry Fitzgerald. Maureen’s help and guidance  was a major influence on the progress achieved each Tuesday. She was very encouraging and down to earth and she introduced an element of fun and relaxation into the classes. The exhibition shows the works completed by first and second year adult students as part of their Level 5 Painting/Drawing Module. The title No Limits was chosen because of their ability to proceed outside their safety zones and free their minds to new experiences.  The work include paintings from different mediums including; Acrylic on canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic on board, Collage on board etc.

Many of the students had never held a paint brush in their hands until they attended  on the opening day of the art class. It was a learning curve as they were introduced to colours, shades and tones, and how to mix the different colours to match the pieces they were reproducing. The students  were inspired by many different artists namely Vincent Van Gogh,  Claude Monet, Mary Lohan, Paul Henry, Donna McGee, Georgina O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollack, and Sean Scully. The students  would be delighted if people  could come along and support them on the  opening night on Wednesday  June 7 at 7.30pm. The official opening will be performed by Eileen Brophy from the LCETB.A cheese and wine reception will be available from 7pm and all are welcome. The exhibition is open to the public and the paintings will be displayed up to Friday June 23.

Saint Kieran’s Heritage  Thursday June 8 at 8pm  in Carrigkerry Community Centre.  New members who are interested in our heritage  will be made most welcome.