By Tom Aherne

Theresa Aherne Hayes and family, Ballyloughane, Carrigkerry are holding a Coffee Morning at Carrigkerry Community Centre on Sunday, October 28 at 11.30am. All the proceeds will go to the Bumbleance Children’s Ambulance Service, who were so kind to Conor during his final illness. Bumbleance  is the most modern children’s ambulance service and also is the world’s first interactive ambulance purposefully designed for children, with the capacity to operate the latest medical equipment and inter hospital communication systems. Bumbulance helps families bring children to and from hospital and also provides angel journeys. The majority of people who work with Bumbleance are all volunteers and they rely on donations and funding to update their services. They will be selling merchandise namely key rings, wristbands, and pens. All support will be greatly appreciated.

The annual Remembrance Masses for those who died during the last 12 months will be held as follows: St Colman’s Church, Kilcolman on Thursday, November 1 at 7.30pm. St Kyran’s Church, Coolcappa on Friday, November 2 at 7.30pm. St Molua’s Church, Ardagh on Friday, November 2 at 7.30pm. Saint Mary’s Church, Carrigkerry on Thursday, November 8 at 7.30pm. The following is the Ardagh list: Francis Brouder, Mary Leahy Moriarty, Thomas (Tom) Wright, Maureen Egan, Kathy Casey Byrne, Frank (Thomas) Fitzgerald, Mary Kate Sheahan, John O’Connor, Kathleen Buston, Leanne Bennett, and Joseph Harrold. The Carrigkerry list is Helen Ahern, Donie Collins, Mary (Lane) O’Connor, Conor Hayes, Patsy Barrett, John Goulding, Con Herbert, and Bridget (Bridie) Flynn. If any person is omitted from the list their relatives are asked to contact the parish office at 069-76678 to rectify the records.

We extend our sympathy to Des and Mary O’Sullivan and family, Carrigkerry on the death of Des’s step-father Daniel (Dan) Looney 5 Riverview Ballyhahill. He lay in repose at Madigan’s Funeral Home Shanagolden on Sunday, October 7 from 5-8pm. The Requiem Mass was celebrated on Monday at 12 noon at Our Lady of the Visitation, Church Ballyhahill followed by burial in Shanagolden Cemetery. We extend sympathy also to his wife Margaret (Peg), sons, daughters sons in law, daughters in law, grandchildren and extended family. May he rest in Peace.

St Kieran’s Heritage Association held a meeting with twenty people present at Neary’s on Tuesday October 9. It was a night for looking back and reviewing the Ardagh Chalice 150 anniversary festival. The majority of comment was very positive with input from nearly all present. The three weekend festival was a huge undertaking for a voluntarily group to take on and carry out and it received great praise from people from surrounding areas. The action packed programme of events held in a small village in West Limerick vastly exceeded what was held nationally to mark the 150 anniversary of the Ardagh Chalice Hoard. All involved in any way in making it an outstanding success can take a bow. People can visit the St  Kieran’s Facebook page to review events and keep up to date with Heritage matters. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday November 13 at 8pm in Neary’s.

Congratulations to Jack Sheehan, Ardagh who has been selected as Vice-Chairman of the Newcastle West Fianna Fáil Comhairle Ceantair at their recent annual general meeting.

The parish of Coolcappa/Kilcolman raised €596 (proceeds from a recent bake sale) for 95FM Stop Tour for Children’s charities. The cheque presentation was held on Sunday, October 7

The following are the Lottery results from Neary’s Bar, Ardagh on Monday October 8. The numbers drawn were 13, 14, 21, and 26, and there was no Jackpot winner.  Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who won €40 each, Ann Holyhead, Ardagh, Helen Daly, Ardagh, Nora Cronin, Ardagh, Liam Moloney, Ballyhahill, and Marie Madigan, Ardagh.  Next week’s Jackpot will be €11,600 and the draw will be held in the Thatch Bar Newbridge.

Carrig Celtic defeated Ballingarry 4-2 at home in the Desmond Premier Division on Sunday October 7. Their goals were scored by Seanie King 2, Killian Enright, and Denny Greaney. Creeves Celtic had no fixture. In the Premier Division of the Ladies League Kilcolman Rovers lost 1-0 away to Abbeyfeale Utd. Creeves Celtic lost 4-0 at home to Broadford Utd in Division 1.

Congratulations to Michael Haulie Moran, Ardagh who has qualified to participate in the JP McManus Grand Qualifier to be held in Adare Manor in May 2020. He joins Marius Stokes and James Quinn  following their recent golf classic held in Newcastle West Golf Club, to represent the Friends of St Ita’s Community Hospital in the event.

St Kieran’s defeated Shannon Gaels by 1-10 to 1-5 in Round 1 of the West U-21 Football Championship at wet and windy Athea on Saturday October 13. They led by 1-8 to 0-3 at half-time. TEAM Robert Bradley, Michael Shanahan, John Byrnes, Daniel Barrett, Liam Upton, Diarmuid Mulcahy, Anthony Mullins, Liam Kennedy Darragh O’Connor, Stephen Lyons, Noel Callanan  1-3, Eoin Burke, Dylan Moloney 0-2, Killian Enright 0-2, John Hayes 0-3. SUBS John Buckley, Michael Murphy.  

Two past St Kieran’s players were recently honoured for winning titles with other clubs. Congratulations to Paddy Molyneaux who was honoured for his involvement with Broadford who won the West Junior B Hurling Championship in 1968. He received a presentation at a function held in the Old Forge Inn Broadford on Saturday October 6. Congratulations to Michael Haulie Moran who received a presentation from the Athea club at The Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine on Friday October 5. He was a member of the team who won the 1968 County Senior Football Championship.

Congratulations to St Kieran’s who won the U-10 Hurling Shield at the annual Cois Sionna Credit Union Tournament/Blitz held in Askeaton Gaelic Grounds on Sunday September 30.

The Garry McMahon 10th Annual Singing Weekend takes place from Friday October 19 to Sunday 21. It is a wonderful weekend of traditional singing and storytelling sessions, newly composed ballad competition, and  recalling GAA songs. The full programme of events is interesting and should provide all attendees with lots of enjoyment.  

Saint Kieran’s club will welcome the Liam McCarthy Cup (from 4pm) and the All Ireland Ladies Junior Cup (West County Hotel Cup) to Coolcappa Gaelic Grounds on Saturday, October 20. It promises to be a great occasion to have both the men’s and the ladies cups (and some members of the teams,) on show, for people to get their hands on them and to get some treasured photos taken.

Kilcolman N.S. is holding a new bumper clothes collection and bags can be dropped into the school shelter before Friday, October 19. Any re-wearable clothes paired shoes, belts, handbags, curtains, towels, bed linen, soft toys, are accepted and thanks to all who supported the last collection.

The children and parents of Coolcappa National School will hold a Coffee Morning and bake sale  in Coolcappa Hall after 10am Mass on Sunday, October 21in aid of the Indonesian Quake, and all support will be greatly appreciated.

The annual Halloween children’s disco will be held on Friday, October 26 in Coolcappa Hall from 6.30 to 8.30pm.

Work on the community all-weather 80 by 50 metre Astroturf playing facility in Ardagh is in the final stages and should be completed by the end of the month. It is coming down now to the laying of the turf and the final touch up around the area. All age groups are looking forward to using it and it will be a great asset and demand for usage promises to be high.

The clock is ticking for the Lip Sync Legend Fundraiser in aid of the Ardagh District Recreational and Sporting Company (ADRSC) which will be held in the Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine on Saturday, November 10. The rehearsals are being held in Ardagh Community Centre and they commenced on Wednesday September 26. It is a mix of the established participants from last year plus an exciting new line up of people in the 15 groups who will be treading the boards and exhibiting their talents. The rehearsals are being held on Friday evenings from 7.30pm

The first fundraiser a scrap metal collection was held in Devon Wood Ardagh on Saturday, October 6. A Clothes collection will be held in Ardagh Hall and Coolcappa GAA Grounds on Saturday/Sunday, November 3/4 from 9am to 6pm, (All re-wearable clothes paired shoes belts handbags curtains towels, bed linen will be accepted) and the remaining fundraisers will be held after the big night in the Devon Inn. The support of the community for this major fundraiser will be much appreciated by the ADRSC, as the cost of putting this facility in place is high. Last year’s event was a tremendous success, and provided two wonderful nights of entertainment.

Congratulations to Pat Broderick Newcastle West, who won €330 in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday, October 12. Tickets cost €2 and they are available from volunteers, in local shops, or from the radio station. All support is very much appreciated.