By Tom Aherne

The death has taken place of Patrick Kennelly Parkview, Shanagolden, on Friday June 22 peacefully in Milford Care Centre Limerick. Reposing at Madigan’s Funeral Home Shanagolden on Sunday June 24 from 6pm to 8pm, followed by removal to St Colman’s Church Kilcolman. The Requiem Mass was celebrated on Monday at 12 noon, with burial afterwards in Shanagolden cemetery. We extend our sympathy to his wife Mary, son Jerry and partner Susan, daughter Gráinne, son-in-law Tom, Knockfinisk, grandchildren Ailisa, Tomás, Caoimhe and Paidí, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, relatives and many friends. May he rest in peace.

Limerick City and County Council wish to advise the public that Kilbrathern, and Lismakeera burial grounds are now closed burial grounds, and no new burial plots will be assigned. Only the families that have purchased existing plots from Limerick City and County Council can be interred there. The majority of our burial grounds are approaching this point at present and it needs to be addressed so people can be interred in accordance with their wishes.

The Ardagh Community First Responders number is 083-8889963. The service covers the Ardagh Kilcolman and Coolcappa areas, from the hours of 7pm to 7am Monday to Friday and from 7pm Friday to 7am Monday.

The Friends of St Ita’s Community Hospital wish to thank the collectors and everyone who contributed so generously to their recent church gate collection in Kilcolman. The amount collected was € 236.50 and this will go towards the ongoing improvements for the patients in the hospital in Newcastle West.

The following are the Lottery results from Neary’s Bar Ardagh on Monday June 18. The numbers drawn were 6,7,13, and 27, and there was no Jackpot winner.  Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who won €40 each:  Dave Connelly, c/o Bus Eireann, Mary Kiely, Ardagh, Kevin and Tony c/o, Nora Dineen, Darragh Ronan c/o, Foley’s and Kevin O’Donoghue, Newcastle West. Next week’s Jackpot will be €8,600 and the draw will be held in Neary’s Bar Ardagh.

The County Limerick GAA Club draw for June was held on Limerick Live 95fm radio on Saturday June 30. Congratulations to Tara and Daniel Geraghty from the St Kieran’s club who won  €100.

Congratulations to all the participants and prize winners from the St Kieran’s area who took part in the Limerick Community Games held in Mungret on Saturday/Sunday June 23/24.

St Kieran’s Kieran’s lost to Killeedy by 4-19 to 1-13 in Round 3 of the West Junior A Hurling Championship played in Templeglantine on Friday June 29.   They lined out without the injured Paudie McCarthy and they trailed by 1-8 to 0-10 at half time.  They only trailed by two midway through the second half but failed to score in the final quarter. TEAM John O’Connor, Mikey Breen, Brendan McCarthy, Billy Breen, Eoin Burke, Mike Windle, Anthony Mullins, Killian Enright, Jack Ben Harnett 0-1, Ian Mackessy 0-1 Johnny McCarthy 0-3 Mike Enright, Michael, Murphy 1-0  Danny Collum 0-4 Anthony Molyneaux 0-4.  Sub Ray Noonan. Management Sean Hayes, James Windle, Brian Kennedy.

Leah Hayes Coen and Sophie Liston were part of the Desmond League panel competing in the U-16 Gaynor Cup in UL from Thursday June 21. They played five matches and ended up in the Bowl final losing 2-0 to Sligo/Leitrim.

Schools have closed for the summer holidays and a well deserved break for all students and teachers. The sixth class pupils bid farewell to their primary schools as they embark on the next stage of their education. The students who completed their Leaving Cert can look forward to College life or entry to the workplace.  May all enjoy the lovely sunshine and the summer break and return refreshed for their chosen destination in late August?

A review of the weekend Gaelic games action is held on the Exchange programme each Monday (from 11.30am to 1pm) on West Limerick 102FM. Presenter Pat O’Donovan and guests discuss the items of interest from the local and the national matches. The guests have included Con Warren, Peter Curtin, Mike Barrett, and Tom Ryan, and their views are always of interest. Mike Barrett a native of Rooskagh has a long association with hurling, since he got involved in the Inter Firm games in Castlemahon Poultry Products in 1975. He has also served as an umpire at inter county level for referee Neily Duggan Rathkeale. Their in-depth analysis is very interesting and listeners will not be disappointed as they tell it as it is.

St Kieran’s Heritage Association will hold their next meeting in Ardagh Heritage Centre on Thursday July 5 at 8pm, and all are welcome.

The Comhaltas Summer Seisiun season commences at the Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine on Thursday July 5 at 8.30pm. It is a traditional music song dance and storytelling show that entertains the audience for over two hours. It is an ideal show to take visitors from other countries to show them one of our national pastimes. The only other Seisiún show in Limerick is in Hup na Houra in Kilfinane commencing on Tuesday July 10. The first half of the show is formal with the resident members of Templeglantine Comhaltas and guests entertaining all present with their talents. In the second half of the show members of the audience are welcome to participate, and share with all their own party pieces. The shows run weekly at both venues up to mid August and people who attend will not be disappointed

Coolcappa/Kilcolman changeover of Masses, will take place on the weekend of July 7/8. Kilcolman Saturday evenings ay 7.30pm, and Coolcappa Sunday mornings at 10am.  

St Kieran’s Heritage Association is holding a church gate collection in Ardagh/Carrigkerry parish on the weekend of July 7/8. All support will be greatly appreciated.

The following dates for the local graveyard masses have been announced as follows: Kilscannel Cemetery Thursday July 5 at 7.30pm, Kilbradern Sunday July 8 at 12noon, Kilcolman Saturday July 14 at 7.30pm, Coolcappa Sunday August 12 at 10am, Clounagh Sunday September 2 at 12 noon, and Kilcolman Sunday November 11.

Congratulations to Melissa Quaid Newcastle West, who won €302 in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday June 29. Tickets cost €2 and they are available from volunteers, in local shops, or from the radio station. All support is very much appreciated.

Congratulations to Pat McLoughlin who launched his first collection of short stories in front of a large attendance at the Longcourt Hotel on Friday last June 29. The book, To Weave with Words, was launched by Patrick O’ Donovan TD, Minister of State at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The book was published by the Limerick Writers’ Centre and is available in the following shops: O’Mahony’s Bookshop, Limerick; Tony Hayes’s Shop, Newcastle West and Ann Lyons’s Shop, Abbeyfeale.   Profit from the proceeds of the very interesting book will go to the Friends of St Ita’s Hospital.