By Tom Aherne

Congratulations to Amy Cussen, Carrigkerry, daughter of Johanna and Paul, who recently celebrated her 21st birthday at a party attended by family and friends in the Silver Dollar Newcastle West.

We extend our sympathy to Joe and Kathleen O’Keeffe, Barnigue, Carrigkerry on the death of Joe’s brother Michael, Glenameade, Pallaskenry and Lixnaw Kerry. Reposal took place at his home on Tuesday, March 27, with removal on Wednesday morning to Saint Mary’s Church Pallaskenry for 12 noon Funeral Mass followed by burial in Adare cemetery. Sympathy also to his wife Maureen, daughter Suzanne, son Michael Paul and extended family members. May he rest in Peace.

Congratulations to Niamh Foley, Old Mill and Saint Mary’s Rathkeale, who received a Munster Achievement Award at the Auburn Hotel Ennis recently for her European bronze medal performance for Ireland in the 4 by 100 Metre relay at EYDF Gyor Hungary.

Sharon Kinehan, and Jackie Geoghegan, would like to thank all those who supported their Daffodil Day Coffee Morning on March 24. They raised the fine total of €701.32 for the Irish Cancer Society.

The Limerick GAA Club draw was held during the sports programme on Saturday March 31. Congratulations to James Ambrose from the Saint Kieran’s club who won € 100.

The following are the Lottery results from Peadar’s Bar Ardagh on Monday March 26. The numbers drawn were 19, 26, 27, and 30, and there was no Jackpot winner.  Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who won €40 each: Fiona Woulfe c/o Neary’s, Christina Mackessy Ardagh, M and W c/o Denis Greaney, Margaret O’Donnell c/o Dawn, and Mai Kennelly c/o Neary’s. Next week’s Jackpot will be €6,000 and the draw will be held in Reen’s Bar Ardagh.

Congratulations to Kilcolman Rovers who won the Desmond Division 1 Ladies soccer League title on Sunday March 25. They defeated Carrig Celtic 3-0 in Carrigkerry with goals from Ide Trant 2, and Dora Bury. Congratulations also to the management and background personnel involved in their success. Creeves Celtic received a walkover in the other game.

We congratulate Leah Coen Hayes from Kilcolman who represented the Republic of Ireland Girls U-15 team at Ulster University Jordanstown over the Saint Patrick’s weekend. They defeated Scotland 4-0, Northern Ireland 5-0 and England 2-1 in the final to capture the Bob Docherty Cup.

In the Desmond Premier Division Carrig Celtic lost 2-0 at home to Glin Rovers, and remain in relegation trouble. In division 3 Creeves Celtic defeated Ballingarry B 4-1 at home with Brian Nash scoring 3, and Mark Hennessy adding the other. Carrig Celtic B lost 1-0 away to Athea Utd B.

Special Olympics Limerick West sincerely thank you for your generous donations at the church gate collection held in Ardagh/Carrigkerry in recent weeks. The collection was to raise funds to send three special Olympic athletes to the Special Olympics Ireland event in Dublin.

DarraghTreacy, and Sean McSweeney, (sub) from Saint Kieran’s were members of the Limerick team that lost to Antrim by 1-13 to 0-12 in Division 4 of the National Football League played in Newcastle West on Sunday  March 25.

Tesco Newcastle West has allocated a blue token slot for one month to Ardagh/Carrigkerry Social Club. The members are appealing to all customers who shop there to drop their blue tokens into the social club slot. The more tokens that are dropped in the more money the club will receive. It is a vital fundraiser for the club to enable them to plan their events during the year.

Glenville House and Gardens Ardagh will be open to the public on the following dates: April 3-28, May 1-31, August 18-26, (Heritage Week) and September 4-13, Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30am to 1.30pm. The admission is €5, students €3 and children and OAPs free.

Newcastle West Film Club hosts the Party Director at the Desmond Complex Newcastle West on Friday April 6 at 8pm. The admission is €7 and refreshments are available.

The Old Mill ladies football club will be holding a bag packing fundraiser at Tesco in Newcastle West on Saturday April 7 from 10am to 6pm. Volunteers over 16 years who are available to help out are asked to contact by text Moira McEnery 086-8110634. The club are holding a clothes collection on Saturday April 21 and any clothes can be dropped to a committee member or contact Moira McEnery 086-8110634 prior to that date. The club are also holding a coffee morning (Mad Hatter theme) on Saturday April 28 from 10am to 1pm. All support for these fundraisers will be appreciated.

The parish mass times in Ardagh/Carrigkerry will rotate from the weekend of April 7/8. Mass will be celebrated in Saint Mary’s Church Carrigkerry on Saturday evenings at 6.30pm, and in Saint Molua’s Church Ardagh on Sunday’s at 11am.

Saint Kieran’s Heritage Association are holding a meeting in Ardagh Hall on Wednesday April 11 at 7.30pm. The last meeting was held there on Wednesday March 13, and a good crowd was in attendance. Items discussed included getting a replica of the Ardagh Chalice, the cost involved and manufacturers. The mural to be erected including the design and an artist to create it. The Ardagh Chalice stamp which is now on sale and chalice fridge magnets which could be got and used for fundraising.

Names to give a talk about the Sam Maguire Cup on September 22 were mentioned and it was suggested that Bishop Leahy be invited to the concelebrated Mass on Sept 21. The bishop also to be invited to the unveiling of Bishop Lacey’s stone on Saturday August 4. A trip to the National Museum in October to attend lectures to celebrate the 150 Anniversary was discussed. The meeting was updated on grant applications, and on the Heritage Council who are holding a training day in Dublin in April for people who are running Heritage events. A fundraising pub quiz will be held in Neary’s Bar on Saturday April 7 at 9.30pm and all support will be appreciated.

West Limerick 102FM and West Limerick Resources will hold a free radio training course in the Newcastle West studio commencing on Wednesday April 11. The course will cover basic interview skills, introduction to audio production, radio content development and lots more. For additional information contact Dee on 069-62222.

A fundraising concert/céilí and old time dance in aid of the Leanne Bennett fund will be held in the Community Hall Ardagh on Sunday April 15. The concert will commence at 7.30pm, followed by a céilí and old time dancing.  Artists performing include the All Ireland winning Ardagh/Carrigkerry/ Manister Plearacha Group, Donie Nolan and Taylors Cross Céilí band. The admission is €10 and all support will be greatly appreciated for this very deserving local cause.

West Limerick 102FM present a grand variety concert at the Longcourt Hotel Newcastle West on Wednesday April 18 at 8pm. Appearing on stage will be Peter Burke, PJ Murrihy, Emily Clarke, Elle Marie O’Dwyer, Willie Relihan, Michael Collins and friends, and the Donal Ring Céilí Band. It promises to be a tremendous night’s entertainment with that all star line up and tickets cost €15. They can be got from the radio station on 069- 66200, Pat O’Donovan 087-9977340, Patsy Naughton 087-7920183, and at Ann Lyons shop Abbeyfeale.

A charity Céilí in aid of Down Syndrome Limerick will be held in the newly reopened Longcourt Hotel in Newcastle West on Friday April 27

Congratulations to the following who were prize winners in the 50/50 draw in aid of West Limerick community radio:  Joan Flynn Feohanagh won €204, Kathleen Carroll Duagh, won €210, and last week’s winner Mary Sheahan Dromcollogher, won €206. Tickets cost €2 and they are available in local shops, or from the radio station.