By Tom Aherne
The death has taken place of Mary (Mai) Kennedy wife of the late Mark, Ballinena, Old Mill, Newcastle West, peacefully at Killeline Nursing Home Newcastle West on Saturday June 30. With her late husband who died in the early 1970s she was a member of the farming community. She came from Askeaton, and was in her 90th year and a resident of Killeline Nursing home for many years. May kept a lovely home and her hospitality knew no bounds, and she will be sadly missed by all who knew her. She lay in repose at Reidy’s Funeral Home Newcastle West on Monday July 2 from 6pm, followed by removal to the Church of the Immaculate Conception Newcastle West. The Requiem Mass was celebrated on Tuesday at 11.30am, with burial afterwards in Ardagh cemetery. We extend our sympathy to her son Seamus, daughter Mary Kelly, grandchildren Mark, Lisa and Eoin, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. May she rest in Peace.
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 Carrigkerry area number is 098- 7930692 and it covers the same hours.
Congratulations to Adam Teskey, Reens Ardagh who was recently elected as the new Cathaoirligh of the Newcastle West area of Limerick City and County Council.
St Kieran’s Heritage Association held a church gate collection in Ardagh/Carrigkerry parish on the weekend of July 7/8. A big thank you to all who supported it and the proceeds will go towards the running of the Ardagh Chalice 150 Festival which will be held on the final two weekend of September.
St Kieran’s Heritage Association held their monthly meeting in Ardagh Heritage Centre on Thursday July 5 and 18 people were present. Chairperson John P O’Sullivan opened the proceedings, and Secretary Mary Kury read the minutes, and dealt with the correspondence received since the previous meeting. Paul Moriarty outlined the progress made for the Outdoor Play (The last Druid) which will be staged on Saturday September 29. The play tells the story of the loss of the Ardagh Chalice, and the subsequent events as they unfolded. The individual family squares for the parish quilt was on show as well as the school pupil’s art work, and all are very impressive looking. Sunday July 15 is the final day for accepting squares, and if people have problems they can contact Mary on 087-9282462. The completed quilt will be unveiled on Friday September 21, the opening night of the festival.
Theresa Doyle McMahon, brought a lovely art framed painting of the Ardagh Chalice (plus others) which will be a prize on the night of the Church Concert on the closing night of the festival. This concert has a very interesting line up thanks to Theresa and others and commences at 8pm. On Sunday September 16 a concert featuring local musicians will be held in Ardagh Community Centre. This will be recorded by personnel from R.T.E. for their Céilí House programme, which is scheduled to go out on air the following Saturday September 22. The Ardagh Chalice 150 Programme of events covering the final two weekends of September was discussed at length and changes made during the meeting.
The association are holding three events during August which should be of interest to members of the public. First up is the Unveiling of the Bishop Lacy Stone at Ardagh Graveyard Mass at the Millennium Altar and Pattern at St Molua’s Well on Friday August 3 from 6.30pm. This will be followed by a talk by Dr Salvador Michael Ryan of Maynooth in the Community Centre. On Sunday August 5 a 12k walk from Bishop Lacy’s birthplace Dromadda, Athea to Ardagh Community Centre will be held. A bus will ferry the people from Ardagh at 12 noon to the start, and the route will take in the Booster Station Rooska, Ballyine, Old Mill Dunganville, and Ardagh. On Thursday August 23 a talk by Dr Bill O’Brien U.C.C. will be held in the Community Centre at 7.30pm. The title is Ballylin Hill Fort the Bronze Age Capital of Limerick and it will be followed by tea and cake. This event is in association with Heritage week. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday August 1 at 8pm in Ardagh Heritage Centre.
The following are the Lottery results from Neary’s Bar Ardagh on Monday June 18. The numbers drawn were 3, 16, 18, and 20 and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who won €40 each: Timmy Copse, Carrigkerry, Breda Foley, Ardagh, Thomas Costello, Coolcappa, Helen Byrnes, Ardagh, and Marie Claire Lenihan, Ardagh. Next week’s Jackpot will be €8,800 and the draw will be held in the Old Mill Bar.
St Kieran’s defeated Ballysteen by 2-14 to 1-10 in the West Senior Football Championship semi-final in sunny Ballyhahill on Tuesday July 3. The sides were level five times with St Kieran’s dominating the final quarter to run out seven point winners. They trailed by 1-6 to 0-8 at half time, and lost a player to a second Yellow card on resumption. They were under pressure for the next ten minutes, going three points behind. A cracking goal scored on the volley by Noel Callanan was the turning score, as the Ballysteen challenge faded. TEAM: Robert Bradley, Brendan McCarthy, John Doyle, Anthony Mullins, Liam Kennedy 0-1, Johnny McCarthy, Diarmuid
Crowley, Jack Ben Harnett 0-1, Darragh Treacy, Noel Callanan 1-1, Sean McSweeney 0-5, Anthony Molyneaux, Seamus Mangan 0-5, Brian Crowley 0-1, Killian Enright 1-0. Subs Paudie McCarthy, Ian Mackessy, Eoin Burke, Liam Upton.
St Kieran’s senior football squad enjoyed a very good Limerick GAA Big Ball Sevens Competion run by Rathkeale club in Mick Neville Park Rathkeale on Saturday June 30. They had wins over Ballysteen, Galbally, Kildimo/Pallaskenry, Mungret St Pauls, and St Senan’s to reach the decider. They lost out by 2-10 to 0-6 to holders Newcastle West after a good contest. Panel Diarmuid Crowley, Brian Crowley, Shane Lynch, Ray Cahill, Sean McSweeney, Seamus Mangan, Noel Callanan, Liam Upton, Liam Kennedy, and Stephen Lyons.
The Comhaltas Summer Seisiún season commenced at the Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine on Thursday July 5. 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.
The annual Mass will be celebrated in Kilcolman Graveyard on Saturday July 14 at 7.30pm, and all are welcome.
The annual Mass will be celebrated in Knockpatrick Graveyard Foynes on Sunday July 22 at 2.30pm and all are welcome.
Congratulations to Sarah and Michael Hartnett, from Galway and on holidays in Newcastle West who won €346 in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday July 6. Tickets cost €2 and they are available from volunteers, in local shops, or from the radio station. All support is very much appreciated.