By Tom Aherne
The following are the arrangements for Christmas masses in Ardagh/Carrigkerry. Due to Covid 19 restrictions the numbers in attendance at Mass are limited to 50 at each gathering. Following a meeting of the Parish Pastoral Mission team it was decided to operate a ticketing system to adhere to the limitations on the number of parishioners who can attend each service. Tickets were available from the parish office on Wednesday and Thursday, December 16/17, and on Saturday December 19, in both churches. The Christmas Eve Masses on Thursday, December 24 will be celebrated in Ardagh Church at 6.30pm and 10.30pm and in Carrigkerry Church at 8.30pm. The Christmas Day Mass will be celebrated in Ardagh Church at 10am, and in Carrigkerry Church at 11.30am.
The following are the arrangements for Christmas Mass in the parish of Coolcappa/Kilcolman. The Christmas Eve Mass on Thursday, December 24 will be celebrated in Coolcappa at 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm. Kilcolman 7.30pm, and 9pm. The Christmas Day Mass will be celebrated in Kilcolman at 8am, and 9.30am, and Coolcappa at 11am.
Joe Dowling, Ballinabearna, Old Mill commenced his 200-mile charity walk for the Council of the Blind in the Demesne Newcastle West on Tuesday, December 1. He completed the 320km virtual Camino walk on Saturday, December 12. Over the 12 days Joe walked 128 circuits of the boundary of the Demesne. Congratulations to Joe on achieving his goal, and all sponsorship collected will benefit the NCBI.
Stephen Goulding has been appointed Principal of Kerry College, Clash Road, Denny Street and Listowel Campus. Stephen joined Kerry ETB in 2011, as Deputy Principal of Listowel Community College. In 2015 he was appointed Principal of Coláiste Na Ríochta and North Kerry College of Further Education, formerly Listowel Community College. A native of Carrigkerry West, Stephen lives in Newcastle West, and is wished well in his new position.
Saint Kieran’s players Sean Ryan and Shane Fitzgerald and selector Paudie McCarthy have been involved this year with the Limerick minor football team. Sean has lined out at corner back and Shane has been a panel member. In the Munster Football Quarter final Limerick defeated Waterford by 2-12 to 1-5 at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick on Saturday, December 12. In the semi-final they lost to Clare by 4-20 to 1-10, at the Gaelic Grounds on Wednesday, December 16.
Le Chéile is a new musical treat for Christmas CD in aid of Friends of Saint Ita’s, Newcastle West, and the Butterfly Club Rathkeale. It is on sale at present costing €10 at Saint Ita’s and Tony Hayes, Newcastle West, Rathkeale Post Office and Sullivan’s Chemist, Rathkeale. The CD includes the following artists, Coolcappa choir members, Michael Nash, Ann Phelan, Jean O’Brien, Charlie Reynolds, Fr Tim Curtin, Canon Tony Mullins, Fr Liam Enright, Michael Enright, Theresa Doyle McMahon, Enda Walsh, Michael Doyle, Siobhán Doody and the Newcastle West Choir. It is produced by Theresa Doyle McMahon and Kevin Daly, and it would bring enjoyment to a friend this Christmas.
The Irish Rambling House DVD celebrating 30 years of Radio Kerry is currently available for sale. This show was performed at Siamsa Tíre Tralee, just before Covid-19 arrived, and it has not been released on DVD previously. The group have been entertaining the exiles in Britain for over 20 years, and it would make a lovely Christmas present. The cost is €20 including postage, and they can be ordered from the Irish Rambling House, Lyreacrompane, Listowel, County Kerry. Phone 087-2853570, or visit www.irishramblinghouse.com
The Copse family Glensharrold, Carrigkerry (Eircode V94 V6KC) have a lovely display of Christmas lights on and around their house and front lawn. A collection box is available for people who call to see the lights, who may wish to give a donation. The money collected will go to Milford Hospice Limerick. Ardagh Development Association are displaying their new Christmas tree.
Saint Kieran’s Heritage Association have published a local trade directory which is available free of charge in the following outlets. Greaney’s Shop, Ardagh, Ailish Hairdressers, Ardagh, Hanley’s Shop, Creeves, Applegreen Service Station, Coolanoran and Moloney’s Shop, Carrigkerry. The 36-page directory compiled by Secretary Mary Kury contains an A to W list of services, clubs, societies, voluntary groups, emergency numbers, help lines, and places of interest to visit in the four local villages and surrounding areas. It is a very handy reference booklet with space at the back for people to include their own personal contact details.
The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery draw took place on Monday, December 14, in the Community Centre, Ardagh. The numbers drawn were 11,17,24,25 and there was no winner of the €3,700 Jackpot. Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who received €40 each: Sean Downey, Ardagh, Sean Moriarty c/o Greaney’s, Paddy Bridgeman, Rathreigh, Ardagh, Stephen Kennelly Shanagolden, and Helen Byrnes c/o Greaney’s. Next week’s jackpot will be €3,800. People can play online using club force on the club’s Facebook page, with 6pm on Monday evening the deadline. The tickets are also on sale at the usual outlets, and all support will be appreciated.
Creeves Celtic held their twelfth split the pot fundraiser draw at Hanley’s Foodstore, Creeves, on Monday, December 14. Congratulations to Andrew White who won €170. The entry fee is €2, with €1 going to the club and the other €1 to be paid out in prize money each week. The envelopes to place your two Euro in plus details, are available at Hanley’s Foodstore, Creeves, Thatch Bar and Restaurant, Newbridge, and from committee members. Participants can also sign up to a standing order made payable to the club, contributing €9 per month. The forms are available from committee members, and the draws will be held on Monday nights and all support will be appreciated.
Congratulations to Tim Mulcahy, Newcastle West, who won €500 in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday, December 18. Tickets cost €2 and they are available from volunteers, in local shops, (including Moloney’s Carrigkerry) or from the radio station. All support is very much appreciated, and the draw will continue in the New Year. New volunteers to get involved in all aspects of the station are needed at present. The roles available include research and studio work, fundraising, creating new talk shows, documentaries and lots more. Contact the station at 069-66200 if interested.
These are the final notes for 2020, which was a challenging year for most people. I would like to thank everybody who assisted me in the task, and wish all readers a happy and safe Christmas, and a Covid free New Year.
Saint Kieran’s Heritage Association News
GREETINGS: I hope all are keeping safe and well. This year has been a challenge for us all due to the corona virus, which swept across the world causing illness and death to so many. Thankfully Ireland has coped well but our thoughts are with all the people and their families who have been affected. It has been a very difficult year for members of our group who have been unable to meet up since our last meeting on Thursday March 6, due to Covid -19. As a result, all the planned events for the year had to be cancelled.
Some of the Saint Kieran’s Heritage members got involved in the Saint Kieran’s Response Group which was set up on March 14. It was set up during the lockdown to help housebound people with their shopping and medical needs, during the pandemic. As a group we value and appreciate the wonderful work that was done and continue to be done by all our frontline workers, over the past 9 months, they are truly angels of mercy, and may they all remain safe to protect the rest of us.
HERITAGE WALKERS: A small walking group came together under organiser Patrick O’Regan in mid-May and has continued weekly under the Covid-19 regulations. It has been a very enjoyable pastime to view historical sites, and get some exercise, within and outside our catchment area. We were honoured to have the Rev Patrick Comerford and his wife Barbara join us for local visits, on a couple of occasions. Patrick followed up and posted a number of very interesting and informative articles on his own social media page.
SOCIAL MEDIA: As it is very important to keep the group together and informed a Whats app group was created by Chairman John P O’Sullivan in mid-September. This allowed members to share and discuss any relevant happenings, including the resurfacing of the Greenway, and Limerick Council’s purchase of Ardagh Station House. The committee forwarded their recommendations on the future use of the building to the Council. The Saint Kieran’s Heritage Association Facebook page continues to inform us about our daily past history.
KEVIN MAGEE: The recent upgrading of the Greenway from Rathkeale through Ardagh, and Limerick Council buying Ardagh Station House, brought to mind the contribution made by Kevin and Maura Magee. Kevin came to Ardagh Railway Station from Castleconnell as a porter and graduated to Station Master. He oversaw a very busy station, with people and goods boarding and embarking daily. When the Railway era ended, he founded the Glebe Printing Press, which was located in the Station building next to his house in Ardagh. He printed Posters for all political parties, dance tickets, bill heads, invoice books, etc., and he was a real gentleman to deal with.
Kevin was very involved in the Church and parish duties, and he collected the offerings in the church and was a member of the counting team afterwards. He stood at all charity collections as well as the Fianna Fail collection, and he was involved in the Bingo in Ardagh which raised a lot of money for the parish renovation fund. Kevin also published a number of very interesting articles of local interest, in the Limerick Association Yearbook.
Kevin and his wife (Maura Sheehan sister of Mossy RIP from the Devon Inn Hotel) kept a beautiful, landscaped garden which was much admired, and Maura supplied flowers to Saint Molua’s Church Ardagh. They retired to Templeglantine to be near relations around 2007. They later moved to Beechwood House Nursing Home. Kevin was 98 years old and the Life President of Fianna Fail Cumman Ardagh, when he died on February 14, 2017. Kevin, pre-deceased by his wife Maura, was laid to rest in Reilig Na Tríonóide, Templeglantine. It would be nice to see a plaque erected at the Station House to mark their contribution to the Ardagh area.
TRADE DIRECTORY: Saint Kieran’s Heritage Association have published a local trade directory which is available free of charge in the following outlets. Greaney’s Shop Ardagh, Ailish Hairdressers Ardagh, Hanley’s Shop Creeves, Applegreen Service Station Coolanoran, and Moloney’s Shop Carrigkerry. The 36-page directory compiled by Secretary Mary Kury contains an A to W list of services, clubs, societies, voluntary groups, emergency numbers, help lines, and places of interest to visit, in the four local villages, and surrounding areas. It is a very handy reference booklet with space at the back for people to include their own personal contact details.
CD: Le Chéile is a new musical treat for Christmas CD in aid of Friends of Saint Ita’s Newcastle West, and the Butterfly Club Rathkeale. It is on sale at present costing € 10,at Saint Ita’s Hospital and Tony Hayes shop Newcastle West, Rathkeale Post Office, and Sullivan’s Chemist Rathkeale. The CD includes the following artists, the Coolcappa choir members, Michael Nash, Ann Phelan, Jean O’Brien, Charlie Reynolds, Fr Tim Curtin, Canon Tony Mullins, Fr Liam Enright, Michael Enright, Theresa Doyle Mc Mahon, Enda Walsh, Michael Doyle, Siobhan Doody, and the Newcastle West Choir. It is produced by Kevin Daly and heritage member Theresa Doyle Mc Mahon, who continues to give of her time so freely in aid of local charity groups. It would make a lovely gift for a special friend this Christmas.
RADIO PROGRAMME: Our local radio station West Limerick 102, continue to offer a good service despite the disruption of the pandemic. It is entirely volunteer driven, and it has faced many challenges over its 15 years on air. It is a great facility to have on our doorstep, and the general public are always welcomed to avail of it to promote what they are involved in. As a result, I have come together with presenter Shirley O’Regan to produce a one hour and fifteen-minute-long radio programme on the early years of the Glensharrold Wren Group. It will go out on Saint Stephen’s Day at 3pm, with a repeat airing on Bank Holiday Monday December 28, at 7pm. It will be available also as a Podcast.
WISHES: A very happy Christmas and New Year to all our members, and their families and friends. Please God when the vaccine arrives for all, we may be able to return to normality to pursue our interest in our local heritage. New members are always welcome to get involved and drive on the Association.