By Tom Aherne

The death has taken place of Bridget (Bridie) Colbert (nee Meade), Ballysten, Shanagolden, peacefully on Friday  August 4, at the Rehab Unit of St Ita’s Community Hospital, Newcastle West. Pre-deceased by her husband, Pat she was in her 100th year. She lay in repose at her residence on Sunday August 6 from 4pm to 7pm. The Funeral arrived at St. Colman’s Church, Kilcolman on Monday  for 12 noon Requiem mass. Fr Tim Curtin and Canon O’Keeffe concelebrated  and the ceremony was enriched by hymns and music from Enda Walsh and Jean O’Brien etc. Her son Con paid a lovely tribute to his mother and her grandchildren Ciara, Eimear, Amy and Conor brought gifts which had a special meaning for Bridie, before the ceremony commenced.

Con described her as a hard worker both in the home and outside on the farm. She prayed daily and had a great devotion to the Sacred Heart. She was born on July 30 1918 and lived through the First and Second World Wars. Bridie was around for Limerick hurlers winning six All Ireland titles, which not many can boast about.  She always promoted the importance of education, and the power it created. The gifts were her prayer book which she used every day as she had a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart, A diary which she kept to record daily events such as the weather, world happenings and visitors to the farm. A copy of the Weekly Observer and one of Alice Taylors books,  whose stories were similar to her own memories of those far off days. A miniature model of a tractor, which played a very important role around the farm.

Fr Tim paid his own tribute during his homily and traced her path through life from her native Shanbally Kilcornan to her final days. She arrived in Coolcappa/Kilcolman with Parish Priest Fr Patrick Lynch as his housekeeper in the 1950s. She caught the eye of Pat Colbert and they were married in 1959 in Abbeyfeale Church where Fr Lynch was now based. He recalled his visits to her home on the First Friday and on her 99th birthday the previous Monday. Bridie was laid to rest  in Kilbradran Cemetery not far from her home on Monday August 7. We extend our sympathy to her  son Con, daughter in law Mary, grandchildren Ciara, Eimear, Amy and Conor, brother in law, sisters in law, nephews, nieces, extended family and friends.

May she rest in Peace .

Congratulations and best wishes to Philomena Kelly and Donal Brosnan, who were married in Saint Molua’s Church, Ardagh on Friday July 28.

Congratulations and best wishes to Amy Collum, Creeves and George Sunderland, Tara Hill, County Wexford who were married recently in the Abbey of San Fedele Poppi, Italy.

Congratulations and best wishes to Lesley Ann Danaher, daughter of Mary and Tom, Old Mill, and Michael Conway, son of Ann and Michael, Croagh, who were married recently  in Croagh church. Congratulations also to Philomena (Dunne from Clounleharde) and Tommy Dore, Killeedy who recently  celebrated their Golden Jubilee wedding anniversary with family and friends at the Devon Inn Hotel.

The following are the Lottery results from Neary’s Bar on Monday August 7. The numbers drawn were 2,7,15,and 27 and there was no Jackpot winner.  Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who won €40 each: Bernie O’Flynn, Ballyegna, Kit Relihan, c/o Denis Greaney,  Oisin O’Connor, c/o the Thatch Bar, John Shine, Old Mill, and Sharon Roche, Lisgordan. Next week’s Jackpot will be €6,000 and the draw will be held in Foley’s Bar Reen’s Ardagh.

Ardagh/Carrigkerry parish contributed €880 to the recent Trocaire collection taken up  to aid the people of Africa. Coolcappa/Kilcolman parish contributed €848.30 to the collection for the training of First Responders held on July 15/16.

Saint Kieran’s drew with Ballysteen 1-8 to 0-11 in Round 4 of Group 2 of the County Senior Football Championship at the Bog Garden Rathkeale on Sunday August 6. This was a game that slipped away from Saint Kieran’s, in the final quarter after they left a four point lead slip away. The dismissal of Paudie McCarthy removed one of their main attacking options, and forced them on the defensive. Ballysteen reduced the lead point by point to kick the equaliser from a sideline free in injury time to share the points. Saint Kieran’s with five different scorers lead by five points to four points at half time, playing with wind advantage into the road goals. The only goal of the match arrived in the fourteenth minute of the second half from the boot of Darragh Treacy following good approach play by Noel Callanan, and Paudie McCarthy.

TEAM: Dan Madden, Mossie Shine, Johnny McCarthy, Anthony Mullins, Diarmuid Crowley, Anthony Molyneaux,0-1 Kevin Meade, Darragh Treacy, Captain 1-1 John Doyle, Sean McSweeney, 0-4 Jack Ben Harnett, Noel Callanan, Seamus Mangan, 0-1 Niall O’Shea, Paudie McCarthy,  Subs Donal Nolan, Killian Enright, Mike Windle John O’Connor. The result leaves them joint top on five points, second to Newcastle West on scoring difference. The top two teams meet in the final round with a knock out place still on offer. They will need to defeat their great rivals to clinch a semi-final place. The match has been fixed for Sean Finn Park Rathkeale on  Sunday August 20 at 7pm. The intermediate hurlers play Hospital/Herbertstown on Sunday August 27 in Ballingarry at 7pm.

Saint Kieran’s defeated Drom/Broadford by 4-10 to 3-3 in the West Minor A Football Championship in Dromcollogher on Friday August 4. Congratulations to Denis Hayes, Knockfinisk who won €150 in the Athea GAA 500 Club draw which was held in Collin’s Bar on Saturday August 5.

West Limerick 102 community Radio are holding a 50/50 draw at present. The tickets cost €2 and are available in local shops, and from the Station. This will be a weekly fundraiser for the Radio, and the draw will be held live on air each Friday at 12.45pm. The winning ticket holder receives half of the money collected that week and the Radio Station receives the other half. The latest winner was Brendan Roche, c/o Mags Bar Newcastle West and he won  €380. All support weekly to keep the station on air will be greatly appreciated.

The Comhaltas Seisiún Show continues each Thursday night at the Devon Inn Hotel in Templeglantine. It is hosted by the local branch and it  commences at 8.30pm for two hours, and all are welcome.

Elle Marie O’Dwyer from Freemount in north Cork will launch her third CD  On a Day Like This at Charleville Park Hotel on Thursday August 24 at 8.30pm. Performing on the night:

Elle Marie and her band, All Ireland champions the Shandrum céilí band, The man from Mullagh P.J. Murrihy, Sean Nós dancers Sarah and Maurice O’Keeffe, and fiddle duo Liam Flanagan and Claire O’ Loughlin. Admission: €10 (children free) Tickets available on the door: no pre booking necessary and  CDs available on the night for a special launch price of €10 (rrp €15) Elle Marie has been  presenting her own show every Thursday morning  with West Limerick 102 Radio for the past year. Her music choices  and promotion of local talent has been very popular with all listeners. She is returning to full time teaching after a few years sabbatical and she will be missed by all her fans.

West Limerick Heritage Network are issuing an invitation to the launch of the  second edition of the West Limerick Heritage Journal which is being held on Friday August 18 at 7.30 pm at the Desmond Complex Newcastle West.

The next Rambling House will be held at Pat Moran’s house in Newbridge on Friday August 18 from 9pm. All entertainers are welcome to attend and to participate in what promises to be a very enjoyable night.