By Tom Aherne

Saint Molua’s Church Ardagh is fifty years old this year, having being  solemnly blessed and officially opened  for public worship on October 15 1967. Work on Saint Molua’s Church started in 1813 after Fr James Corbett P.P. received a free site from local landlord Maurice Studdert, from Elm Hill who also gave a donation of ten pounds towards the cost of the build. It was completed and opened in 1814 and served until the present Church was built on the same site. The church has been upgraded and modernised over the years, and a spacious car park put in place to cater for large crowds.

A fantastic night was had by all who attended the concert in Saint Molua’s  Church Ardagh on Friday October 6, and congratulations to all involved. If you missed the concert or indeed if you were there, and would like to relive the experience, videos will be on sale shortly for €15 each.  They will be available  in the Parish Office, Neary’s Bar, Hayes Shop Newcastle West, and all proceeds will go to Pieta House.

Congratulations to James O’Connor, Kilcolman and Ardagh/Carrigkerry Comhaltas who recently received an award from the Newcastle West Municipal District Limerick Council to recognise his achievement in winning this year’s All Ireland Bodhran Competition in the senior category.

The following are the Lottery results from the Thatch Bar Newbridge on Monday October 9. The numbers drawn were 5,7,20,and 21, and there was no Jackpot winner.  Congratulations to the  five lucky dip winners who won €40 each, L Murray c/o Reen’s Bar, Aaron Mulqueen c/o Denis Greaney, Marie Danaher, Ardagh, Des Hanley, Coolcappa, and Dan Duggan, Ardagh.  Next week’s Jackpot will be €7,800 and the draw will be held in Peadar’s Bar Ardagh.

Saint Kieran’s  are still celebrating after their County Minor A football win over Na Piarsaigh in Rathkeale on October 6. It was a dramatic injury time winner  from Stephen Lyons that sent their followers wild with delight after an eventful encounter. Noel Callanan after accepting the cup from John Cregan Board Chairman gave a very detailed speech before the wild celebrations commenced.

TEAM: Dan Duggan, Eamon Ambrose, Michael Murphy, Tommy Mullins, Michael Shanahan, Diarmuid Mulcahy 0-1, Eoin Burke, Dan Power, Liam Kennedy, Noel Callanan (captain) 1-0, Dylan Moloney 0-3, John Buckley 0-1, Kevin Guina 0-1, Evan Donovan, Stephen Lyons 0-2. Subs John Hayes 0-3, Stephen Hennessy, Eoin McEnery, Denis Cronin, Edward Fitzgerald, Jack Enright, Tomás Treacy,  Aaron Heffernan, Shane Murphy, Michael Conlon. Congratulations also to the management of Donie Murphy, John Enright, Mike Windle, and Owen Hayes, who were rewarded for their expertise and commitment, and their back up team.

Congratulations also to our neighbours Saint Senan’s who won the County Intermediate Football title on the same night also at Mick Neville Park. Their captain Ian Ryan is a teacher in Kilcolman National School.

Carrig Celtic defeated Killeaney 4-0 away in the first round of the Munster Junior Cup on Sunday October 8 with goals from Killian Enright,2 Ray Cahill, and Seanie King. Creeves Celtic lost 2-1 at home to Broadford United in Division 3 of the Desmond League, with Richard Hayes scoring. Carrig Celtic B defeated Glantine B 3-1 away in the first round of the Reidy Cup with their goals coming from Conor O’Shea, Mike Murphy, and Kevin Moore. In Division 1 of the Desmond Ladies League Kilcolman Rovers defeated Carrig Celtic 3-0 at home with goals from Ciara O’Donnell, Patrice Downey, and Kelly Mc Lean. Creeves Celtic defeated Kilbehenny Celtic 1-0 at home with Angela Sheehan scoring.

If a parishioner is in hospital and would like Fr Tim or Fr Michael to visit please let them or the parish offices know. Priests no longer have access to the patients lists, under the data protection act. It is now up to the family of the patient  to make the request for the visit.

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 Linda Dennehy, Newcastle West, who won €398. All support weekly to keep the station on air will be greatly appreciated.

Social dancing continues  in Ardagh Community Centre each Wednesday with Eileen. Learn how to jive quickstep waltz foxtrot slosh etc, from 8pm to 10pm. No partner required and the fee per class is €10 each. The numbers are increasing night by night as the word spreads, and a few more  men would be welcome, to match the number of women to make it easier to learn the steps together . New steps are being introduced each week to the music of Nathan Carter, Michael English, Derek Ryan, Jimmy Buckley and other well known artists. It is a great way to meet people of similar interests, and to keep fit at the same time, as it is a fun filled and action packed two hours.

The big Lip Sync night is only three weeks away and the excitement is building by the day with rehearsals being stepped up in Ardagh Hall for all the acts participating.  The fundraising support events are continuing weekly and next up is a Halloween Disco in Ardagh Hall on Friday October 27 and a clothes collection on the following weekend November 4/5. People can also help by dropping their Tesco Blue tokens into the Ardagh box for the next four weeks. Donations in aid of the project have been positive to date and thanks to all who have contributed so far. People can still donate by contacting  David Woulfe, Deirdre Ambrose, Donie McEnery, Patrick Windle, John Aherne, Seanie Hayes, or Ian Mackessy. The main Lip Sync event will be held in the Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine on Saturday November 11 and tickets will be available to purchase shortly.

Coolcappa Parents Association are holding a used clothes collection on Thursday October 19 at Coolcappa National School. This is an ideal opportunity to go through your wardrobe and do a clear out before the winter, and the results will be twofold. It will allow more space for new additions, and also benefit the pupils attending the school. The parents are also holding a children’s Halloween Disco and Fancy Dress competition in Coolcappa Hall on Friday October 27  from 6.30pm to 8-30pm. The admission is € 3 per child and prizes will be awarded for the best costumes on show.

The following winter mass schedule will take effect the last weekend of October in Ardagh/Carrigkerry parish. On Saturday October 28 Mass will be celebrated in Saint Molua’s Church Ardagh at 6pm. On Sunday October 29 Mass will be celebrated in Saint Mary’s Church Carrigkerry at 11am.

Ardagh Voluntary Housing Association CLG will hold their AGM in Ardagh Community Hall on Monday October 30 at 8pm, and all are welcome.

West Limerick Singing Club will host the 9th Annual Singing Weekend in honour of Gary McMahon from October 20-22 in Abbeyfeale. It promises to be an action filled weekend of top class singing. The entry forms and rules for the newly composed traditional ballad competition are available from 087-2293636 or email [email protected]

A fundraising Masquerade Ball in aid of Milford Hospice, and the Mid Western Cancer Foundation will be held in the Devon Inn Hotel on Friday November 3. There will be a three course dinner, complimentary drinks, fun and games, and a raffle with a first prize of a 32 smart TV. Music will be provided by Keep in Touch Band and DJ. Tickets are €55 per person and they are available  from Lisa Ruttle 087 9544848 and Joan O’Sullivan, 086 1625960, and all support will be appreciated.