By Tom Aherne

The death has taken place of Sister Kathleen O’Connell, SHSP at the Convent of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate, San Antonio, Texas on Friday, August 18, 2017.  She was born in Glensharrold Carrigkerry on August 30, 1926 and was professed as a Sister of the Holy Spirit in 1947. In June, she joyously celebrated her 70th Jubilee, surrounded by community members, family and former students. Sister Kathleen (known for many years as Sister Benignus) was a much loved teacher who served students in Catholic Schools in Missouri, Louisiana, Houston, Hondo, Corpus Christi, Pharr and Dallas.  She spent ten years teaching English at Healy Murphy Centre and in her retirement she volunteered to rock the babies in Healy Murphy’s Child Development Centre.  Her last assignment was in Oaxaca, Mexico where she did pastoral ministry.

Kathleen received her primary education in Carrigkerry National School and her secondary education at the Convent in Newcastle West. She spent a year at school in Claremorris, Co Mayo, where she met the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate. In September 1945 she entered the Convent of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate in Mountbellow, Co Galway and made her first vows the following year.

The Sisters there were mostly Irish, as their founder Margaret Mary Healy-Murphy was from Caherciveen, Co Kerry, and in the early days of the congregation she and her successors had recruited young ladies from Ireland. She moved to Texas, and in the years following her First Profession, she studied at St Mary’s University in San Antonio, where she received  a B.A. in English and History. Later she received an M.A. in Education from Incarnate Word College, also in San Antonio.

Sr. Kathleen taught in various schools in Louisiana, and Texas, mainly Blacks and Mexican American’s up to 1984. She also taught in an all white school in Dallas, and was there on that never to be forgotten day that President John F Kennedy was assassinated. Her last ten years in teaching  were spent at Healy Murphy school in San Antonio, teaching disadvantaged students, and students at risk. While there she studied Spanish and became  interested in the foreign missions.

When Kathleen retired from teaching she went to Oaxaca, Mexico for the next five years, doing Catechetical and social work in a poor parish, and she did further courses to improve her Spanish. In 1989 she returned to Ireland to be with her elderly mother Peg who lived on her own, and stayed in family ministry until she died in 1993. She returned to Texas, in 1994 and to Oaxaca, Mexico in 1995. where the ministry there was mostly pastoral and social,  among the Zapotec and Mixteco Indigenous people. All the  funeral services were  held at the Holy Spirit Convent Chapel, Yucca Street.  On Monday, August 21, the  Rosary was recited at 7pm,  and Mass of Resurrection was celebrated at 4pm on Tuesday, August 22 followed by interment in the convent grounds. We extend our sympathy to her brother Paddy in England, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. May she rest in Peace.

The death has taken place of Pádraig Cahillane, New Link Road, Caherdavin, Limerick, late retired Principal of Christ the King B.N.S., Caherdavin, formerly of Rathkeale and Coimín, Baile na nGall, Trá Líon August 24, peacefully at Limerick University Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of the late Phil, he was a past teacher in Carrigkerry National School in the 1950s, and he instilled in the boys a passion for Gaelic football. He taught them the skills in O’Connor’s field which was to stand to them in later years. He prepared them for entry into the West Juvenile Football Championship which sowed the seed for further participation. He moved to Rathkeale to teach and lined out with the local team. Pat won a County Senior football medal with Western Gaels in 1953 defeating Treaty Sarsfield’s by 0-9 to 1-4 on October 25 at Kilmallock. He lined out at centre field and two Kilcolman players Darby Fitzgibbon, RIP and Tommy Kelly were amongst his team mates.

He lay in repose at Thompson’s Funeral Home, Thomas Street on Sunday August 27 from 6.30pm to 8pm followed by removal to Christ the King Church, Caherdavin. His Requiem Mass was on Monday at 11.30am with burial afterwards in Rathkeale Cemetery. We extend our sympathy to  Siobhán (McGovern), Seán, Gearóid, Cormac, Pádraig, Gráinne (D’Alton), Traolach and extended family members and friends. May he rest in Peace.

Congratulations and best wishes in the future  to Maura O’Flynn, Ballyegna and Patrick Cremin, Killeedy who were married  in Saint Colman’s Church, Kilcolman, on Saturday August 19. They held their reception in the Listowel Arms Hotel.

Welcome to Bernard Kennelly Cahermoyle, who has replaced his brother John Joe as sacristan in Saint Molua’s Church, Ardagh. John Joe has been a tireless worker for the church and parish over the years, providing great service to both. Best wishes to John Joe and Nora, in the future.

The following are the Lottery results from the Old Mill Bar on Monday August 28. The numbers drawn were 4,9,25,and 27 and there was no Jackpot winner.  Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who won €40 each, Dympna Mangan, Ardagh, Ned Lynch, Newcastle West, Mattie Histon, Kilcolman, Mike Molyneaux, Ardagh and Frank O’Connor, c/o Moloney’s. Next week’s Jackpot will be €6,600 and the draw will be held in Neary’s  Bar Ardagh.

Saint Kieran’s were defeated by Hospital/Herbertstown by 2-17 to 0-14 in Round 5 of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship at Ballingarry on Sunday August 27. It was a disappointing display and the result leaves them bottom of Group 1 with only two draws from their five matches. They will play Knockaderry bottom of Group 2 in a relegation match with the loser dropping down to the junior grade in 2018. TEAM Anthony Molyneaux, Mikey Breen, Paudie McCarthy (captain) Mossie Shine, Mike Windle, Billy Breen, Jack Ben Harnett, 0-1 Sean McSweeney, Donie Nolan, 0-1 Johnny McCarthy, 0-1 Seamus Mangan, John O’Connor, Darragh Treacy, 0-1 Danny Collum, 0-10 Subs Anthony Mullins, John Buckley, Padraig Trant, Stephen Hennessy, Diarmuid Mulcahy,  Owen Hayes, Paddy Harnett, Killian Enright, John Greaney, Ian Mackessy, Management Seanie Hayes, Pat Ryan, Cathal Breen.

Carrig Celtic defeated Glin Rovers 2-1 away in the Premier Division of the Desmond League on Sunday August 27. Sean Mc Sweeney, and Killian Enright, scored their goals. Creeves Celtic defeated Broadford Utd b 8-4 away in Division 3 with Seamus Mangan scoring five goals, and Tom Shanahan, 2 and Richard Hayes, completed their total. Carrig Celtic B drew 0-0 away with Ballingarry B also in Division 3.

The Ardagh/Carrigkerry Social Club re-opened on Tuesday September 5 after the summer break. They meet in Ardagh parish hall from 2pm, to 4.30pm, and new members will be made most welcome. This is their twentieth year operating and the entertainment includes music, song dance and Bingo, and the usual refreshments.

Saint Kieran’s Heritage Association next meeting will be held in Neary’s Bar Ardagh on Thursday September 7 at 8.30pm, and all members are asked to attend and new members will be most welcome.

A family fun day will be held in Saint Kieran’s GAA grounds  Coolcappa, on Sunday September 10 commencing at 12 noon. A group of parents have come together to run a family fun day in association with Pig town Limerick.The entertaining events will include Bouncing Castles, Races, Long Puck, Egg and Spoon Races, Games, Face Painting, Pigtown Limerick Pig on a Spit, and Pigtown BBQ Beef Burgers, Cake Sale, and much more. This mini fundraiser is in aid of the recently formed ADRSC Community Project, who are running a Lip Sync event which will be held in the Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine on Saturday November 11. All support will be greatly appreciated on the day.

The following support events for the ADRSC Community Project have been announced as follows, A family fun day will be held in  Coolcappa on Sunday September 10, A pub quiz in Neary’s Pub Ardagh on Saturday September 23, A scrap metal collection ( to be finalised) on Saturday September 30, A running tour of West Limerick  sports fields on Saturday October 7, A rambling house in Ardagh Hall on Saturday October 14, and a clothes collection on Saturday November 4. The committee and all involved would appreciate the support of the public for the various events, and others still to be announced.

People can also support the project by donation a sum of money, and a  Bond scheme ( interest free loan) over a period of ten years, Letters have been circulated to houses within the catchment area with all the details on how to support this exciting development in Ardagh village. The main Lip Sync event will be held in the Devon Inn Hotel, Templeglantine on Saturday November 11. Visit their ADRSC Facebook page to keep up to date with events.

The Saint Vincent de Paul annual parish pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Saturday September 9. People interested in attending are asked to contact John Joe Kennelly on 069-76280

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