By Tom Aherne
The death took place peacefully at Beechwood House Nursing home, Newcastle West, of Mattie Griffin The Cottages, Ardagh, on Thursday, November 1. Reposing took place at Riedy’s Funeral Home, Newcastle West on Sunday, November 14, from 6pm to 7pm. His remains arrived at St Molua’s Church, Ardagh on Monday, November 15, for 11.30 Requiem Mass. Burial took place afterwards in the local cemetery. Sympathy to his cousins, relatives, kind neighbours and friends. May he rest in Peace.
The death has taken place of Mary McCormack, née Collins, Rathreigh, Ardagh on Saturday, November 13. Following reposal at her home, Requiem Mass was celebrated on Monday, November 15,at 12.30 pm in St Kyran’s Church, Coolcappa with burial afterwards in Ardagh Cemetery. Sympathy to Joe, daughters Joanne and Laura, son Philip, John and Robert, extended family and friends. May she rest in Peace.
We extend sympathy to Mike Foley and family Old Mill on the death of Mike’s mother, Noreen Foley, nee Cussen, Feohanagh. May she Rest in Peace.
Congratulations and best wishes in the future to Hannie O’Connor, Glensharrold, Carrigkerry, who recently celebrated her 93rd birthday at home with family.
A presentation to Doctor Kieran Murphy, Athea to mark his retirement will be held in the Community Centre Carrigkerry on Sunday, December 5 at 3pm. Kieran has provided his services to our local community since 1984 up to the arrival of Covid. Donations to fund this presentation can be handed into Moloney’s Shop, Carrigkerry. A further meeting was due to be held on Tuesday, November 23, and the organisers would appreciate your help and support.
The Nationwide programme on RTE 1, shown on Monday November 15, featured the West Limerick Greenway. Presenter Ann Cassin visited Rathkeale, Ardagh, Newcastle West, Barnagh, Templeglantine and Abbeyfeale and spoke to local people along the way to share the facilities, sights and history of the area. At Ardagh Railway Station, Mary Kury, Secretary of St Kieran’s Heritage Association, spoke briefly about the Ardagh area. It was an enjoyable programme and its airing on national TV should see increased people arriving to the West Limerick area to savour its delights.
The cemetery blessings and prayers during the month of November in the Coolcappa/Kilcolman parish will conclude at Clounagh cemetery on Sunday, November 28, at 2pm.
New footpaths have been laid around Ardagh village in recent weeks. An extra path has been put in place from the community hall to the old Creamery entrance. This is a welcome addition as it can be used by people who are joining the Greenway at the Station house.
Carrig Celtic lost 5-0 away to Abbeyfeale United in the Premier Division of the Desmond League on Friday November 5. Creeves Celtic lost 4-0 away to Rathkeale in the second round of the Munster Junior Cup on Sunday November 7. In the Desmond Ladies League Division 1 Creeves Celtic defeated Rathkeale 4-0 at home with goals from Shannon Ruttle a hat trick, and Lyndsey Curtin. Kilcolman Rovers defeated Breska Rovers B 3-1 in the Division 1 League Cup semi final played at Clarina to book a final place against neighbours Creeves Celtic. Erin Hennessy, Mia Forrestal and Roisin Tucker got their goals.
Jessie Meade Kilcolman Rovers was a member of the Desmond Under 13 Gaynor cup team that defeated Limerick County 3-2 in Group C of the competition played at Kilmallock. The team are through to the quarter finals as group winners after four wins.
St Kieran’s defeated Caherline 4-8 to 1-11 in Round 1 of the County Under 21 Hurling Championship at Rhebogue Limerick on Tuesday November 16. They trailed by 1-7 to 1-5 at half time, but upper their performance in the second half to gain victory by six points. TEAM Tom McMahon, William Steele, Aaron Heffernan, Edward Fitzgerald, Eoin Burke, Jamie Baynham, Dan Geraghty, Liam Kennedy, Eoin McEnery, Cathal McEnery, Dylan Cahill, John Hayes, Conor Kelly, Michael Murphy, Dylan Moloney. Subs Jack Kiely, Cormac Mann, Jamie Keane, Mikey Long.
St Kieran’s defeated Monaleen 1-12 to 0-8 in Round 2 Group 2 of the County Premier Under 21 Football Championship under lights in Maguire’ Field UL Limerick on Friday November 19. They led by 1-6 to 0-2 at half time . Team Craig McIness, Eoin Burke, Aaron Heffernan, Mike Shanahan, Shane Fitzgerald, Dan Geraghty, Lorcan Murphy, Liam Kennedy, Cormac Mann, Jamie Baynham, John Hayes, Eoin McEnery, Cathal McEnery, Dylan Moloney, Kevin Guina. Subs Jamie Keane, Conor Woulfe, Michael Murphy.
Coolcappa National School is now enrolling for September 2022. Please register your interest by phone 069- 76493, 083 0140041, email coolcappans@ gmail.com website coolcppans.com or twitter @coolcappans.
Ardagh National School is also enrolling now. Please register your interest by phone 069-76353, or email [email protected] After school care is supplied by Ardagh Montessori School. Contact 087-6814335.
The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery draw took place on Monday, November 15. The numbers drawn were 4, 6, 21 and 30 , and there was no winner of the €5,300 Jackpot. Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who received €40 each: Bridie Noonan, c/o Josie, Theresa Downey, Lisgordan, Joe Mulcahy, Newcastle West, Angela Keane, (Online), Winnie Murphy, Coolanoran. Next Monday night’s jackpot will be €5,400. 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 Moira Breen O’Donovan, Ardagh , who won €550 in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday, November 19. 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.
Timmy’s Past Words and Phrases Launched
Tom Aherne reports
Con Colbert Community Hall Athea was the venue for the launch of As Tough as Táthfhéithleann ( As Tough as Woodbine) a collection of old Irish words and phrases by Timmy Woulfe on Friday night last November 19th. A good crowd attended and enjoyed recalling words that were used daily around the village and parish by the sweeping waters of the river Gale. Liam Woulfe son of Timmy and Nancy was MC, and he combined some old Irish words in his introduction.
Jamie Kelly on behalf of Athea Credit Union, who provided generous sponsorship for the publication of the book thanked Timmy for collecting the words and phrases into book form. As a person interested in history, he was delighted to see this being done and happy to see Athea Credit Union being involved.
Domhnall de Barra neighbour and lifelong friend paid tribute to Timmy before he launched the book. He described him as a great community person, a living legend who put Athea on the map. As Athea school teacher he made music and dance available to all the children, which progressed to Athea winning two All Ireland Scór titles in Junior and Senior Set dancing in the 1970s. Domhnall said it was very important that a record be kept of these words and phrases that gives us an insight into the Ireland of the past.
Timmy in his address recalled how the book originated from a project being carried out in Knocknagorna NS 1959/62, while he was a teacher there. The children gathered up the words and expressions they heard at home from their parents, grandparents etc, similar to the School Folklore Collection of 1937. One of the pupils was in charge of them but they got misled over time and were lost. In recent years Timmy became active in recalling the disappearing language and began to write them into a copybook.
A college thesis on the decline of Irish as a spoken language by his granddaughter Róisín Moore, added an extra push to Timmy to get the job done and the book published. The book has over 500 entries, plus their English meanings. The book also contains Roisín’s thesis, and the story of the Home Rule Flag which recently returned to Athea. The old photographs included enhance the publication. Timmy went through a number of the words included in the book and who he got them from.
He especially thanked Tom Moore for the design which contains a Woodbine on the book cover, Róisín for her energy and enthusiasm, family and all connected with the publication. Timmy signed many copies of the book afterwards which sells at € 10 and is available locally. Tea and refreshments were served, and people stayed on discussing the contents and recalling the disappearing words. Our thanks to Timmy for preserving them in book form. He has also collected and preserved many old set dances over the year’s which is another valuable asset credited to his name. Timmy is now free to return to his love of set dancing when Covid restrictions allow.