By Tom Aherne

The death has taken place of Denis Collins, Reastra, Ardagh peacefully at his residence on Friday, October 22. Removal from his residence to Saint Molua’s Church, Ardagh for Requiem Mass at 12.30pm on Sunday, October 24. Denis was laid to rest in the local cemetery. Sympathy to his wife Eileen, son Kieran, daughters Jackie and Rosari, brothers Connie and Eddie, sister Helena,  grandchildren Lee, Aidan, and Niall, sons in law, daughter in law, brothers in law, sisters in law,  nephews, nieces,  relatives and friends. May he rest in Peace.

A further launch of ‘In Loving Memory’ by Mary Kury, will be held at Rathkeale Tourist Office/The Old Court House on Thursday October 28. Tea / Coffee and light refreshments will be served. The book will be available at the next launch or from me Mary Kury Ardagh by post or Order online at [email protected]  or by text at 0879282462. ‘Connections’ by Bridie Murphy is available from the following shops: Sonas Health Shop, Tony Hayes Newsagents, Special Occasions and O’Connor’s Londis, all in Newcastle West, Riordan’s Chemist Athea, Roche’s Mace Shanagolden, Moloney’s Daybreak Carrigkerry and directly from Bridie at 086-8833277 or email [email protected]

Congratulations to  Shirley O’Regan and Patrick Sheehan,  102 FM presenters, who won Radio Craol Achievement Awards on Friday night last, October 22nd in Kilkenny. Shirley won  a Craol Gold Achievement award for her documentary ‘’My Trousers Turned Back -Con Sings On’’, in the ‘Social Benefit’ category. Congratulations also to Tom Aherne, Gabriel Fitzmaurice and Gerard Greaney who participated and  shared their memories and recollections of Con Greaney on the 20^th anniversary of his passing. The Judges commented on the warmth of delivery, intriguing title and distinctive music. Patrick Sheehan won  a Craol  Gold Achievement Award  in the Community and Volunteer Participation category for his “Dromcollogher Day Care Centre” programme. Shirley has also been shortlisted for an award for “Gaeilge Bhriste”, and we wish her well next week.

Congratulations to St Kieran’s who defeated Croom  3-10 to 0-7 in the County Under 19 A Football Championship final at Mick Neville Park on Tuesday October 19. They led 1-7 to 0-3 at half-time. Craig MacInnes, Conor Kelly, Aaron Heffernan, Jamie O’Brien, Shane Fitzgerald,  Dan Geraghty, Sean Ryan, Cormac Mann, Lorcan Murphy, Cathal McEnery, Jamie Baynham, Tom McMahon, Conor Woulfe, Jamie Keane, Shay Greaney. Subs: Cillian Heffernan, Mike Long, Darragh McMahon, Jack Mulqueen, Robert Cremin.

Congratulations to Saint Kieran’s who defeated South Liberties 1-4 to 0-5 in the County Under 15 Football Division 2 Championship Final at Mick Neville Park on Saturday, October 23. They led by 1-2 to 0-3 at Half time. TEAM: Ben Cussen, Christopher Kiely, Conor McMahon, Cormac Murphy, Derry O’Connor, Oisín Ryan, Eoghan Sheehan, Sean Long, Bryan Sheehan, Luke Corrigan, Oisín Cummane, Mikey Kelly, Tadhg Dineen, Jack O’Sullivan, Shane O’Mahony. Subs: Cathal Kinahan, Conor Sheehan, Eoghan Cummane, Jake Lynch, Joey McClellan, Mark Sheahan. Scorers: Oisín Ryan 1-0, Bryan Sheehan 0-2, Oisín Cummane 0-1, Shane O’Mahony0-1.

Saint Kieran’s defeated Doon by 1-11 to 0-11 in the Quarter final  of the County Junior  A Hurling Championship at Kilmallock on Sunday October 17. In a hard-fought physical encounter, they led by 0-7 to 0-6 at half time. A good scoring 3rd quarter and Anthony Molyneaux’s goal paved the way for victory. They play Ballybricken/Bohermore in the semi-final on Saturday October 30, in Clarina at 3pm. TEAM: John Greaney, Anthony Mullins, Paudie McCarthy, Aaron Heffernan, Diarmuid Mulcahy, Brendan McCarthy, Cathal McEnery, Eoin McEnery 0-1, Ian Mackessy 0-7, Mike Flynn, Sean Ryan, Cormac Mann, Anthony Molyneaux 1-2, Johnny McCarthy 0-1 Michael Murphy. Subs James O’Connor, Donie Nolan.

In the Desmond Ladies League Division 1 Kilcolman Rovers defeated Creeves Celtic 2-0 at Newbridge on Sunday October 17. Mia Forrestal and Molly McGrath scored the goals.  In the men’s league Carrig Celtic and Creeves Celtic had no fixtures. Creeves Celtic are holding their monthly Split the Pot draw on Friday, October 29, at Hanley’s Food Store, Creeves. Tickets are available from Hanley’s shop, Thatch Bar and Neary’s Bar, Ardagh.

Milford defeated Ballyagran in the annual Eilish Dillane Cup in  Under 12 camogie at Milford on Saturday, October 9. The cup was presented to the winning captain Polly McAuliffe by Johnny Dillane husband of the late Eilish. She was the former Eilish O’Neill from Old Mill and a great supporter of the Milford camogie club.  

Pat Moran’s, Newbridge will host a Rambling House  session  on Friday, October 29, from 8.30pm. All entertainers  including musicians, singers, dancers and story tellers are welcome to attend.

Kilcolman National School are holding a clothes collection on Friday November 5. Accepted will be used clothes, shoes, handbags, belts, curtains etc. Items can be dropped to the shelter in the school  from Friday, October 22. All support is greatly appreciated.  St Kieran’s GAA Club are holding their annual clothes collection on Saturday/Sunday, November 6/7. All types of rewearable clothes, paired shoes, handbags, belts,  curtains, towels and bed linen accepted. No pillows, duvets, blankets or wet clothes. Items can be dropped off at Ardagh Community Centre and the club grounds at Coolcappa from 9am to 6pm.

Debra Ireland Kerry Challenge 2021 will take place from Friday, November 5 to Sunday, November 7, inclusive. This 75K three-day challenge helps raise funds to ease the pain of E.B. (Epidermolysis Bullosa) Eamon O’Kane, Pat Toomey, Mike Histon and Joe Carrig from the Shanagolden/Creeves area will be taking part as they have done for many years up to the pandemic last year. All support will be appreciated  for this very worthy cause.

Communities across Limerick are being urged to donate gift-filled shoeboxes for children  affected by poverty  in Eastern Europe  and Africa this Christmas. The theme for this year’s appeal is ‘Make A Child Smile’ and aims to encourage people to think  about the single impact , joy and smiles that a shoebox brings to the child who receives it. All people have to do is find an empty shoebox, wrap it in Christmas paper and fill it with gifts  for a boy or a girl aged between 2 and 14, give online or attach a €4 donation and bring it to a local drop off point  before November 8. People can also build a box online by donating at www. teamhope.ie

The next  Limerick GAA Club draw will be held on Saturday, October 30, during the Limerick Live Sports Show from 10-11am. The top prizes each month are 1st prize €10,000, 2nd prize €3,000, 3rd prize €2,000, 4th prize €1,000. The fifth prize each month is an exclusive  star prize. This month it is a hotel break for two nights with dinner. There are  four prizes of €250, and 17 prizes of €100. The total prize money given out each month is €21,000. The Saint Kieran’s GAA Club would welcome new members, and subscription can be paid through the Club force App.

Congratulations to Kathleen Sheehy who won € 347 in the Broadford United Split the Bucket draw.

The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery  draw took place on Monday October 18.  The numbers drawn were 9,19, 22 and 28, and there was  no  winner of the €4,900 Jackpot.  Congratulations  to the five lucky dip winners who received  €40 each: A J O’Sullivan c/o Dawn’s Launderette, Kate Ambrose Liskileen, (Online), Tom Mackessy, Coolanoran,  Margaret Carroll (Online), Ann Holyhead, c/o Dinny Greaney. Next Monday night’s jackpot will  be €5,000. 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.

Congratulations to Gerry Martin Newcastle West , who won €555 in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday, October 22. 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. 

By Damien Ahern

Weekly Community Walk/Run 

Healthy Athea invites you to join us at Páirc na nGael, Athea for a community walk/run each Tuesday from 7.30pm – 8.30pm. Our fully lit, newly surfaced track is now open to the public, and we would love to see you all for ‘laps of happiness’ each week. Please spread the word, and bring along a friend!

U11 Football Parish League

The Annual U11 Football Parish League will take place on Sunday October 31st ,with throw-in at 12 noon. Athea Maroon Vs Athea White.

Athea Maroon:
Daniel Leahy (Capt), Patrick Healy, Daniel Hunt
Paddy O’Connor, Jack Leahy, Tadhg Hunt, Eoin Ahern
Liam Dalton, Loren Healy, Eoin Kenerick
Liam Og Reidy, Daniel Weiland, Conor Fennelly.

Athea White:
Tony Ambrose (Capt), Mark Ahern, Tom Mullane
Mark Collins, Aaron Broderick, Daniel Broderick
Aaron Hunt, Cathal Fitzgerald, John Ahern
Callum O’Connor, Sé Ahern, Conor Leach
Jamie Brosnan, Kane Brouder.

Under 9 Football Parish League 

will take place on Sunday October 31st  with  throw in at 4pm.

Athea Maroon V Athea White

Referee: Derek Byrne

Followed by Cup and Medal Presentation.

Athea Maroon: Shane Ahern (Captain). Jontie Weiland. Colton Broudar. Adam Carroll. James Kelly. Juliette Nash. Kieran Sheehan. Kayleigh Finucane. Seoidin Broudar. Nathan Ambrose. Sean Og Leahy. Julia Kiely.

Athea White: Oisin McCarthy. (Captain) Tiarnan Fitzgerald. Aine Ahern. Oran Hayes. Conor Hayes. Nancy Horgan. Noah Nash. Rory Carmody. Niamh Hickey. Anna Murphy. Saoirse Caffrey

U15 Boys

Division 3 Shield County Football Final

Athea 1-6  Ballylanders 0-12

We went down to a Ballylanders team who played the better football on Monday morning last before a large crowd in Mick Neville Park. Our boys, who have played some great football all year, were a bit flat on the day, but still fought all the way to the final whistle. We trailed at half time 0-5 to 0-2, we had our best spell in the third quarter, to go in at the water break level  at 6pts each. They got on top again and scored 5 pts without reply, Evan Curry scored a goal to reduce the lead to 2, Evan was then fouled for a penalty, but we didn’t convert  , they went down field to score the  final point to win by 3.

Overall this team had a good year, winning the 2020 championship played in April 2021, they were disappointed the last day but the lessons learned will stand to them in the future.

Team ;Tomás Ahern, Ciarán Hunt, Tadhg Ahern, Sean Twomey, Jamie Collins, James Hunt, Tomás Ahern, Calum Buckley, Evan Curry, Jack Sexton, Rory Cleary, Louis O Sullivan, Jim Ahern, Timmy O Keeffe, Alex Quinn. Subs, Eric Barrett, Tom Ahern and Jamie Quinn.

Management ; Colm Hassett, Mike Buckley and John Hunt.

U12 Girls
Athea vs Fr Casey’s in Athea at 1pm on Sunday 31st of October.
This will be their final game of what was a great year for our U12 team.

Junior Ladies  
Junior Ladies Round 5
Athea v Ahane
Sunday 7th November
In Ahane
At 11am

Athea Ladies Fundraiser
Fundraising raffle will take place on fair day on Saturday 6th November.

1st prize : Load of timber sponsored by Edwin Stryker, North Kerry Woodchip.
2nd Prize : €100 heating oil sponsored by MACOIL
3rd Prize : 15 Bales of Briquettes sponsored by Brown Joe’s Bar Athea
4th Prize : 4 Bales of coal sponsored by Collins’ Shop, Athea.

€2 each or 3 for a €5

Thanks to all businesses who sponsored prizes.

By Marian Harnett

DEATHS:  We offer our sympathy to the family of Hannah (Joan) Neligan, Purt whose funeral took place during the week.  We also offer our sympathy to the Lane family on the death of PJ. Killarney Road and Fealeview.

May they rest in peace.
HAVE A BREAK:  Daughters of Charity – Disability Support Services.Would you like to share your home and your heart with a child with disabilities? Have-a-Break is a Home-Based Respite Service which facilitates children with disabilities going to the home of a Carer for Short Breaks. This could be for a day, a night or even a few hours depending on your availability; Experience of caring in any capacity is not essential but can be beneficial , Training and Support is provided. Payment will also be provided depending on level of involvement. For more information please contact Catherine O’Sullivan, Have-a-Break Coordinator Daughters of Charity Lisnagry, on 087-4132888 or 061-501438 or email
[email protected]docservice.ie

QUIT MID WEST:  Stop Smoking for 28 days and you’re 5 times more likely to stop for good. Quit Mid-West is a free service for providing tips, tools and
support to help you stop smoking. For further information contact 065-6865841. A counselling service to support parishioners who wish to stop smoking is now available at
St Ita’s Hall, Abbeyfeale. For an appointment contact 065-6865841.

COLLECTION:  Bishops are asking parishes throughout Ireland to undertake a special Church collection on 6 and 7 November to invite the public to support Trócaire in its work to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in East Africa. Bishops also discussed that in the countries where Trócaire works, less than 5% of the population have been vaccinated for Covid and infection rates are up to 50%.  An additional 200 million people have fallen into poverty globally as a result of the Covid crisis.  Bishops highlighted that wealthier countries, while protecting their most vulnerable citizens, also have a moral responsibility to ensure that the populations of developing countries have equal, rapid and effective access to Covid vaccine coverage. For more on Trócaire’s East Africa appeal see www.trocaire.org.

COVID-19: Those attending Mass are still required to wear face masks as we are in an enclosed area and all visitors to the church should continue to sanitize their hands. Windows will remain open for ventilation purposes. As the autumn approaches and the temperatures drop, parishioners are urged to wrap up well. Some seats will remain closed off to help maintain some distance between people attending Mass. Any person with COVID-19 symptoms should not attend Mass. You should self-isolate and contact your doctor. We need to remind ourselves not to become complacent as we try to return to life with fewer restrictions. Thanks to everyone for your continued support and understanding.   Now that we have additional capacity we encourage more parishioners to attend Mass in the church.

UNICEF:  “Get a Vaccine/Give a Vaccine.” It hoped to deliver 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines to the most vulnerable families, in the poorest countries, including Health workers and the most high-risk people on our planet. UNICEF is inviting us to sponsor a present of the Vaccine to those in the Third World. The vaccine is freely accessible to us, and we don’t even have to pay for it. So many in the poorest countries have no access to it. Already, in appreciation of how lucky we are in comparison to them, the cost of almost 2,000,000 vaccines for people in the Third World has been donated.
What a nice way to put into practice the message of the Gospel ; – Of loving one another as He loved us and expressing that love by showing kindness to those who are
in no position to pay us back. If you would like to be part of this there are a few ways;- You can send your donation by post to Freepost, UNICEF Ireland, 33 Lower Ormond
Quay, Dublin D01 R283. By Phone; (01) 878 3000; By Email; [email protected]

CHURCH NEWS:    Fr Tony Mullins 0872600414, Fr Dan Lane (Retired) 087/2533030, Fr Denis Mullane 087/26219.  Fr Dan Lane will be on call every Wednesday. Fr Mullins will not be available on Wednesdays. Fr Lane can be contacted on 087-2533030  www.abbeyfealeparish.ie email [email protected] Church Sacristy 068 -51915 Parish Office 068 -31133. To book a |Mass intention contact the church before or after Mass on 0668 51915. Mass Intentions: Thursday 10am Frank Woulfe, Knocknasna.  Satyrdat 6.30pm Bridget & Martin McLoughlin. Sunday 10am John Griffin, Main Street. James J and Margaret Collins , Convent Road. Michael & Peggy Tattan and family members Killarney.
12noon Bridget Murphy 8 St Ita’s Road Months Mind. Jacques Collins Rebecca Leahy and Joan Griffin .  Autumn Dues: Fr Tony would like to thank all who contributed to the
recent Autumn Dues collection. Your continued support is very much appreciated.  Confessions will be heard on Saturday evenings just before the Vigil Mass from 6.00pm to 6.25pm. All Souls Day: All Souls Day is on Tuesday, November 2. Parishioners will find purgatorial lists in their weekly box of envelopes. Bring the lists to the church next weekend so that all names can be included in all Masses on All Souls Day.
Mass will be offered on Tuesday, November 2 at 10.00am and at 7.00pm.  We return to hearing Confessions in the Confession boxes. Some slight alterations have been made to the boxes to make them safer during the ongoing pandemic. We would ask that parishioners who want to go to Confession follow all safety guidelines by sanitizing their hands when entering the church, wearing a mask and follow the instructions which will be placed on the door of the confession boxes. If anyone would like to celebrate the sacrament outside of the confession box let Fr Tony know and he will make alternative arrangements for you.  October month of the Missions and of the Holy Rosary. During the month of October, we reflect and pray for the mission of the Church throughout the world. We pray for all our missionaries, priests,
religious, lay women and men who have dedicated their lives to spreading the ‘Good News’ of the Gospel around the world.