By Tom Aherne
Gaelscóil O’Doghair Newcastle West held a very special tree planting ceremony at the school on Thursday, June 17, in honour of the late Patricia (Padraigín) Lordan Aherne, late of Glensharrold, Carrigkerry and Dromcollogher who passed away suddenly at her residence on February 5, 2020. Trish dedicated over 35 years of her life to the growth and development of Naíonra, a unique bilingual preschool in the West Limerick area. She was a great favourite with all the children, bringing fun energy and enthusiasm to her teaching. All will retain great memories of being taught their first Irish words, songs and rhymes in her class The Mayor of Limerick planted a lovely tree, donated by her husband Liam, which will become a centrepiece in a garden dedicated to Padraigín’s life and work. The ceremony was attended by family colleagues and friends, who miss her dearly.
The Ardagh Antique and Collector Centre in Main Street Ardagh is opened to call in and browse every Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 5pm or by appointment (087)2040520.
Riverside Nurseries and gardening store Barnigue, Carrigkerry (V94 H7P0 ) is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, and Sunday afternoon from 1pm to 6pm. A large selection of bedding plants, patio and container plants, shrubs, alpines and herbaceous plants available.
Sympathy is extended to the Casey family, The Cross, Ardagh on the death of Pat’s brother Seán, formerly of Knocknasna, Abbeyfeale, which took place peacefully in the Homerton University Hospital, London on Monday, June 21. The Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Assumption Abbeyfeale on Tuesday, June 29 at 11am. Seán was laid to rest afterwards in Saint Molua’s Cemetery, Ardagh. Sympathy also to his brother Dan,(Abbeyfeale) sister Sheila,(London) and extended family members. May he rest in Peace.
The Limerick GAA Club draw for June took place on 95fm radio on Saturday last during the Sports Show. The Saint Kieran’s club had no winner, but people can still join for the remaining draws by getting in touch with the club.
Saint Kieran’s have played two matches in the West junior A hurling league with mixed fortunes. They defeated Newcastle West B team by 4-22 to 0-8 and lost to Rathkeale by 0-13 to 0-11. Saint Kieran’s defeated Saint Senan’s by 3-8 to 1-8 in Round 3 of the West senior football League at Foynes on Tuesday, June 22. Darragh Treacy was a member of the Limerick team that defeated Waterford by 4-18 to 0-12 in the first round of the Munster senior football championship at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Saturday last June 16.
Róisín Mann, Ardagh and the Newcastle West camogie, club was a member of the Limerick junior team that lost to Kerry by 0-16 to 1-6 in the opening round of the Munster Camogie Championship at Fedamore on Saturday June 19. Róisín Ambrose was a member of the Limerick senior team that defeated Waterford by 0-13 to 0-9 at Walsh Park Waterford on Saturday last June 26, to progress to the Munster final.
The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery draw took place on Monday, June 21. The numbers drawn were 4, 15, 24 and 28, and there was no winner of the €3,200 Jackpot. Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who received €40 each: Shelly and Josie, c/o Josie, Maurice Hartnett, Ardagh, Lorraine Flavin, Coolcappa, Margaret Carroll, Shanid Shanagolden, Archie Madigan, c/o Timmy Madigan. Next Monday night’s jackpot will be €3,300. 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 split the pot draw on Monday, June 21. Congratulations to Francis O’Farrell, who won €103. The weekly 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 Food Store Creeves, and from committee members. People can also sign up by standing order for €9 per month. The draws will be held on Monday nights, and all support will be appreciated.
Congratulations to Tom Hannigan, Kilmeedy who won €550 in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday, June 25. The tickets cost €2, and they are available from volunteers, in local shops, (including Moloney’s Carrigkerry, and Denis Greaney’s Shop Ardagh) or from the radio station. All support will be appreciated as finances are tight due to lack of fundraising. The radio station is off limits to members of the public at present, with only volunteers allowed access. When restrictions are lifted all will be very welcome to visit and get involved in programming. A number of exciting new programmes are in the pipeline for later in the year. The station can be contacted at 069-66200 if people have news of interest to the West Limerick area.
There is a Holy Well in Clonagh (Reens Ardagh) that is about halfway between the road and Clonagh graveyard. Saint Kyran’s well is a small spring that is enclosed by some rough stone. There was a statue over the well, but this has been taken down. The pattern was held on September 9. In his work “Holy Wells in Co. Limerick” Kevin Danaher stated that the rounds were still made in 1955. Small offerings were also left at the well. The water is believed to cure eye ailments.
John O’Donovan (from 1840) tells us that the poorer members of the district used to do the stations here. Legends about the well are many and varied. The well moved when clothes were washed in it. A woman who was praying at the well was interrupted by a man who later died. There is reputedly an underground passage that leads from the well to the graveyard.
Long ago there lived a man who dreamt that there was gold hidden in the churchyard at Clonagh. His mother who believed in dreams, forced him against his will to dig for it. At last, he went to dig for it at night. He worked so as not to be seen by the neighbours. After digging for hours, he came to a flag. Under it he found an amount of beetles.
Those he put into his bag to give his mother a fright. In the morning when she arose, she saw the bag, and she was delighted, and got holy water and went over to it and shook it on it. On opening the bag, she found it full of gold coins instead of it being full of beetles. The above story was written by Maureen Mullane, aged 12 years in 1935, and included in the School Folklore Collection It was told to her by her father, a farmer, whose address was Riddlestown, Rathkeale.