by Tom Aherne
The Residents Against Gasification in our Environment (RAGE) group have won their battle against the proposed Gasification factory planned for the Gortnadroma landfill site on the Carnagh line. Cadence Enviropower five years ago unveiled plans to build a gasification factory bordering the landfill which closed in 2014. They planned to take household waste and turn it into electricity using modern technology that would make it as clean, quiet, and efficient as possible. RAGE was set up to fight and defeat this harmful facility to residents of the area and further afield. The turning point came at a meeting held in Shanagolden when residents turned up in huge numbers to express their anger against representatives of the company. Their five-year planning licence has now expired, and the community owe a big thanks to the committee, who moved mountains to win the day. The committee will continue to protect the site against further planning applications.
In 1879 Michael Kenrick a native of Ballysteen was granted permission by the G.P.O. in Dublin to open the first Post Office at Kilcolman. This he did in a thatched house by the bridge about 500 meters east of the village on the road towards Ardagh. In 1883 he married Mary Lowe from Croagh and together they had 11 children, some of whom in later years emigrated to Australia. To supplement their income, they also opened a small grocer’s shop, which they ran together for a long number of years. In 1919 their daughter Mary, took over the running of the Post Office and Shop till her marriage in 1924 to Daniel Mulcahy of Carrons. The Post Office and Shop continued to be run by her sister Annie and brother John until John’s death in 1964 and Annie’s retirement in 1969. The Post Office then transferred to Dick and Maria Purcell’s Shop next door to the Church in Kilcolman. So, after 90 years thus ended the “Kenrick Link” with Kilcolman Post Office.
A section of the Great Southern Greenway is to be closed for four months from Monday last. Limerick City and County Council says the Greenway will be closed between Ardagh Station House and Newcastle West from Monday, July 13, until Friday, October 23.The local authority, which is likely to face criticism over the timing of the closure of the popular amenity, says it’s necessary to facilitate the carrying out of €5m improvement upgrade works. The remainder of the Great Southern Greenway will remain open to the public for the rest of the summer.
The delayed GAA season is due to commence this coming weekend for Saint Kieran’s when the U-21 hurlers play Granagh/Ballingarry in Round 2 of the County U-21 B Hurling Championship at Coolcappa on Friday July 17, at 7.30pm. The junior hurlers are due to play Doon in Round 1 of the County Championship at Clarina on Saturday July 25, at 7pm.
The recent spell of wet weather has highlighted the condition of many of our rural roads. The very wet weather we got since August 2019, and the lack of attention since the lockdown, is really showing with lots of potholes appearing from surface water running and lodging on surfaces. All the rural roads need to be examined and repaired before their surfaces are further eroded. They need to be attended to now before some motorist badly damages their vehicles.
West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw is back after Covid-19, and the first draw will be held on Friday July 17. Tickets cost € 2 and they are available from volunteers, in local shops, or from the radio station. All support is very much appreciated. New volunteers to get involved in all aspects of the station are needed at present. The roles available include research and studio work, fundraising and lots more. Contact the station if interested.
The Limerick GAA Club draw for 2020 is still available to join and Saint Kieran’s are accepting members at present, in person or online. The cost to join is € 10 each month or € 70 for the next seven draws, and a minimum of 50% goes directly to the club, (depending on the numbers joined) and the other 50% to support the county teams. The first prize each month is € 10,000, with cash prizes ranging down from € 3,000,to €2,000, 1,000, €500,€250, and € 100. Thirty prizes in total each month, with a special monthly prize added this year. The next draw will take place on Limerick Live 95fm, during the sports programme on Saturday July 25.
A local historian in Tipperary is appealing for people to come forward with songs of the War of Independence to help preserve them for the future. John Connors from Borrisoleigh says ongoing events to mark the centenary of the event are the perfect opportunity to collect material. He’s concerned that songs are being lost with the passing of generations and is urging people to send him lyrics or recordings of any ballads relating to that era. Details on how to get in touch with John can be found on the Tipp FM website. John believes there is a large catalogue of songs to be found from each parish in the county.
“I remember back to my grandfather – my mother’s father especially – and like he had a vast store of these songs.”“He had a vast store of these songs and when I was a child, we’d go off places and I’d be on the crossbar of his bicycle and he’d be singing these songs. But of course, youth being wasted on the young I didn’t pay too much attention to them at the time, but they stuck in my memory.”“And then I suppose as time progressed and we came into the centenary I could see that these songs had value of that time a hundred years ago. “John can be contacted on 086 2752634 or via email at [email protected]
County Limerick has its own share of songs of the War of Independence, and maybe somebody might like to collect and publish them before they are forgotten about.