By Tom Aherne

Congratulations and best wishes in the future to Marie O’Donnell Glensharrold  Carrigkerry and Ivan Neary Main Street Ardagh who were married  on Saturday August 31.

Carrigkerry playground opened on Monday August 30, and it has been very busy since with attendees trying out the different attractions. A big thank you to the committee who worked hard against the odds to put it in place. Thanks to all who have financially supported them since the first meeting. Many hours of enjoyment await all who chose to use it.

Congratulations and best wishes in the future to all students who received their Leaving Cert results on Friday September 3. Hopefully all will be happy and can continue with further education or enter the workforce.

Congratulations to Teresa Lawlor Coolcappa who won the Lady Captain’s Prize ( Joan Scanlon)  at Newcastle West Golf Club on Saturday August 29. Congratulations also to all the other local ladies who were  prize winners.

Saint Kieran’s defeated Ballysteen 4-13 to 1-6 in the Under 19 Football Championship at Coolcappa on Tuesday September 3. Saint Kieran’s have withdrawn from the West Junior B Football Championship. Saint Kieran’s defeated Glenroe 5-14 to 2-11 and  Dromcollogher /Broadford 5-10 to 1-14 in the County Under 17 Hurling Division 3 C Championship.

Congratulations to Old Mill who defeated Saint Senan’s 4-4 to 2-4  in the County Under 16 Ladies football championship final at Foynes on Monday September 2.

From now until the festive season is the time for numerous new launches to meet the Christmas  entertainment market. In the local pipeline is the launch of a music CD, and a book of poetry which we look forward to.

Kilcolman National School are holding a clothes collection on Friday September 24. Accepted will be used clothes, shoes, handbags, belts, curtains etc. Items can be dropped to the shelter in the school  from Friday  September 17. All support is greatly appreciated.

The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery   draw took place on Monday August 30. The numbers drawn were 1,9,24 , and 26, and there was  no  winner of the € 4,200 Jackpot.  Congratulations  to the five lucky dip winners who received € 40 each:  Lorraine O’Connor c/o Timmy Madigan, O’Donovan Family Shanagolden c/o Nora Dineen, Patsy Fitzgerald Main Street Ardagh, Paudie Kennelly c/o Josie, and Pat Molyneaux Askeaton. Next Monday night’s jackpot will  be € 4,300. 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 August 30. Congratulations to  Olivia O’Keefe  who won € 106. 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 are held on Monday nights, and all support will be appreciated.

Congratulations to Nora Dineen Ardagh  , who won € 730 in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday September 3.  The ticket was bought at his brothers shop in Ardagh. The tickets cost € 2, or 3 for € 5 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. A number of exciting new programmes are  being broadcast at present with more on the way. The station can be contacted at 069-66200 if people have news of interest to the West Limerick area.

LOOKING BACK 

Saint Kieran’s Heritage Association was formed five years ago on September 1, 2016. It was to cater for the St Kieran’s area, comprising of Ardagh, Carrigkerry Coolcappa, Kilcolman, and neighbouring  Townlands and  was held in the Community Centre Ardagh, with 21 people present. The dictionary describes heritage as something inherited at birth and anything that has been transmitted from the past or handed down by tradition. Heritage is all around us as we go about our daily work and now is the time to preserve and record what we have before it disappears. There is an increased interest in our heritage at present and people in all areas are doing wonderful work to preserve it.

Ger Greaney, genealogist, facilitated the meeting, and Saint Kieran’s Heritage Association was formed. The officers elected were Chairperson John P O ’Sullivan, Secretary Mary Kury, and Treasurer Richard Mc Donnell, and more, officers were added  at other meetings afterwards.  A lot of different areas of heritage were discussed and people were asked to look at their own areas and to start recording what is around them. For example, the name of fields, bridges, crossroads, rivers, forts, Cillian’s, blessed wells, old church graveyards, which may be lesser known to the general public, and need to be preserved.

The Saint Kieran’s area contains a lot of well-known sites, Ardagh Chalice, Ballylin Ring Fort, Ballyine, Mass Rock, Glenastar Waterfall, Campaign House, Carrigkerry, Carnegie Library in Kilcolman, Dunmoylan Church, Munnamohill School, Kilbradern Graveyard, Murray’s Hill, Mannix’s Folly, The Blue Hall, Clounagh, St Kyran’s Well, Lisnacolla Castle, Ballyegna Castle, Elm Hill, and other places of interest. The aim of the Association was to record everything possible, and to mark important dates and anniversaries. A Facebook page was  also set up for viewers to check the ongoing progress of the association.  A lot has been achieved to date with events held to commemorate The Fenian Rising, Bishop Lacy, Ardagh Chalice, and Ballyloughane School, to name a few. Since the arrival of Covid  in March 2020, all activities have ceased,  and members have only participated in a few events. Mary Kury led a walk and talk around Ardagh on Saturday, August 21, and last Wednesday published a fine article about Ardagh Graveyard. With the easing of  Covid restrictions hopefully activities may be able to resume in the near future.