By Tom Aherne

The death has taken place of Neilie Moran (Plumber), Grouse Lodge, Ardagh, peacefully at University Hospital, Limerick on Thursday, January 6. Reposing at Riedy’s Funeral Home Newcastle West on Sunday, January 9, from 5 to 6.30pm. Requiem Mass was celebrated on  Monday at 12 noon in St Colman’s Church Kilcoleman and burial afterwards in Calvary cemetery Newcastle West. Sympathy to his sons Neil and Michael, brother John Joe, sisters Marie Walsh, Noreen O’Keeffe and Joan Copse, grandchildren, sister-in-law, brothers in law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends. May he rest in Peace.

The death has taken place of John Griffin (Irish Rail worker), Ardvone, Ardagh, peacefully at Killeline Nursing Home on Monday, January 10. His Requiem Mass took place at St Molua’s Church, Ardagh on Wednesday, January 12 at 11.30am. Burial took place afterwards in the local cemetery. Sympathy to his sister Joan, nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, Graham and friends. May he rest in Peace.

Congratulations and best wishes in the future to Catherine Ferris, Glencullare, Tarbert and Principal of Kilcolman N.S. and Patrick O’Connor  who were married in St Mary’s Church, Tarbert on Thursday, December 30, by Fr John O’Connor, Tarbert. The Bridesmaids were Mary Moriarty, Teresa Spaight and Mary Lyons. The Groomsmen were John Foster, Tommy McGrath and Gareth Roche. The Flower girls were Lizzie Woulfe and Aisling Kelly. The Pageboy was Mark Kelly. The music was supplied by Teresa, Cara and Blaithín and the singer was Michelle Donovan. The reception was held in the Listowel Arms Hotel. The happy couple will reside in Glencullare, Tarbert. Catherine is a very popular teacher with pupils and parents alike. Thanks to the Tarbert correspondent for the information.

Congratulations and best wishes in the future to Siobhan Hannafin,  Knocknaboha Old Mill and Raymond  Barrett Templeathea who got married in the Heights Hotel Killarney over the  New year weekend.

Minister Heather Humphreys announced  on Thursday, January 6, extra funding of €600,000 for Limerick  Council to be used in the development of two projects on the Greenway at Ardagh and Abbeyfeale. Part of the funding will be used to turn the Station House in Ardagh into a visitor centre and the site into a children’s playground  and a glamping site.

Liam Kennedy, from the Saint Kieran’s club, was half back and Darragh Treacy  was a half time substitute on the Limerick senior football team that lost to Tipperary 1-12 to 0-14 in round 2 of the group stages  in the Mc Grath Cup at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale on Sunday, January 9.

Róisín Mann, Róisín Ambrose, Kate Ambrose and Iris Kennelly (0-1) were members of the Newcastle West camogie team defeated by Drom -Inch 0-10 to 0-7 in the Munster Club Senior Camogie semi-final at Inch Tipperary on Saturday, January 8.

All fixtures in the men’s and ladies Desmond League soccer remain cancelled due to the  Covid pandemic.

The following are the St Kieran’s GAA club membership rates for 2022. Club Limerick Draw only €100, Senior adult player €55, Senior adult player including Limerick Club draw €145, Family membership €75, Family membership including Limerick Club Draw €165, Adult social non playing supporter €35, Adult social non playing supporter including Limerick Club Draw €125, Under 21/Student membership €35, Single Juvenile membership €35. Membership can be paid through the Club Force on the clubs Facebook page.

The St Kieran’s GAA club are participating in the Ireland Lights Up and Step Challenge 2022. The walk commences on this Wednesday, January 19, from the Astro Turf car park at 6.45pm. The organised walks will be held each Wednesday and Friday nights from 6.45pm, up to Wednesday, March 2. The steps challenge runs for five weeks from January 19 to Wednesday, February 23. Each individual can record their weekly steps on the My Life App. This can be done by downloading the App, tap social challenges Munster Every Step Counts and join under select team and click on St Kieran’s.

The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery draw took place on Monday, January 10. The numbers drawn were 5, 15, 16 and 20, and there was  no  winner of the €5,900 Jackpot.  Congratulations  to the five lucky dip winners who received  €40 each:  Mike Magner, c/o Tom Neary, Kate Ambrose, (Online), Stephen Murphy, c/o Moore’s Bar, Tom Corrigan, Askeaton, Kate Ambrose, (Online). Next Monday night’s jackpot will  be €6,000. 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.

After the Christmas break  the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, returns  on Friday, January 21. 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. The station can be contacted at 069-66200 if people have news of interest to the West Limerick area.

The Month’s Mind Mass for Kathleen Ryan, Coolacokera, will be celebrated in St Molua’s Church, Ardagh at 7.30pm, on Friday, January 21.

There is a grand stretch in the evenings at present as we move into the second half of the  month of January. The dry and mild weather has been a welcome bonus during these challenging times. The extra light in the morning and evening gives people a little lift after the winter darkness. The birds are making their presence felt and nature is pushing up shoots for the early flowers.

By Damien Aherne

Walk for Ashling 

Paul Curry, Chairman of Athea GAA addressing the crowd at the Walk for Ashling Murphy RIP

Thanks to everyone who gathered on Thursday evening last for our Walk for Ashling at our Club House. Once again, we came together as a community, as we do best, to support each other recognising the power of a collective. Well done to Margaret, Linda and Ursula and all the team for organising the event in record time. We live in hope that those responsible will be brought to justice and that society will change for the better as a result, where women feel safer and more confident to walk the streets alone without having to look over their shoulder. It’s a timely reminder for us all to look out for each other, at all times, no matter the location or time. Rest in Peace Ashling x

AGM 

Athea GAA AGM will take place on Friday, January 21st online through Microsoft Teams at 7.30pm. The link for the meeting will be forwarded by e-mail to all registered members. If there is anyone else out there that would like to attend the AGM, please e-mail [email protected] and the link to join the meeting will be forwarded to your e-mail account also.

Ireland Lights Up

In conjunction with Operation Transformation, Athea Lights Up will recommence on Thursday, January 13th at 7pm for a duration of eight weeks. This was a huge success in previous years, with many attending to walk the track and clock up the steps! We are appealing to everyone to please maintain social distancing throughout the eight weeks and to clean up after your four legged friend!

Club Force

The committee are currently working behind the scenes to open club registration for 2022 online through ClubForce once again. A discount will  be offered this year for the first few months of 2022. More details to follow.

Paul Curry, Chairman of Athea GAA, addressing the crowd at the Walk for

Ashling Murphy RIP.

By Marian Harnett

PROLOGUE:  In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.

We offer our sympathy to the families of Tom Aherne, Glenashrone.  David McEnery, Dromtrasna Collins. Margaret O’Carroll, 8 Cryle View Manor and Paddy Doran, Hillview Drive whose funerals took place during the week.  May they all rest in peace.

SHOCK AND HORROR:  The shocking murder of Ashling Murphy on Wednesday afternoon has been shattering news not just for Aisling’s family and community but for the whole of Ireland. An estimated 150 people, young women and men, children with their parents, grandmothers and grandfathers, people who live locally and as far away as Tournafulla, Listowel and Knocknagoshel  walked to the Light on Stone Sacred Space in Abbeyfeale’s Town Park on Friday last at 4pm.  There they stood in silence before reciting the first Glorious Mystery of the Rosary and lighting candles as Ryna O’Shea, a member of the Active Retired Group, played two slow airs on her violin.  The lit candles were placed around the perimeter of the sculpture to show solidarity with Ashling’s family and friends and pupils. At weekend Masses Fr. Dan Lane, our resident retired priest, spoke for all of us in his homily when he said:  “We are all horrified and appalled by what has happened to Ashling.  I ask you all, to remember her heartbroken family, her Mum and Dad, and, brother, her sister and all her extended family. May God give them comfort and strength”.  He went on to say:  “During the last couple of days, I reflected on the words of Bishop Brendan in Kileedy at the St. Ita’s Day celebration. I feel that they are very powerful words that we all need to hear and heed at this time. So, I have decided to share them with you:  “It is beholden on all of us to ensure that Ashling Murphy’s death marks a turning point in violence against women. We need to shout from the roof tops across all organisations and communities, from schools to sporting organisations, in church and in our families that violence against women is unacceptable”.  Referring to his presence at the Graduation Ceremony at Mary Immaculate College last October, he spoke about how “as he watched the graduates pass by, while applauding their achievement, he thinks of  them, their family and the future ahead of them. I would have thought of Ashling in the same way”, he said, “But little could I have thought that in a few short months, that this shining star would have been eclipsed with such darkness on Wednesday last.” But even in the midst of the overwhelming sadness and shock that has gripped the nation, there is an unmistakable sense that Ashling’s light is breaking through, that it is not something ‘going out’ but, instead is leading to a turning point. We owe it to her memory, to ensure her journey did not end on Wednesday, but rather marked a new and better beginning for how women are treated, how they are respected and, indeed, protected.  Bishop Leahy went on to say that the shock and grief that has overwhelmed the nation these past few days has not just been because of the horrific circumstances of Ashling’s death, but because Ashling could have been someone we all knew, and was obviously someone very, very special.  She was clearly an all-rounder – bright, good at sport, at music, a people person, a person of integrity, so much promise ahead of her”. Bishop Brendan reminded us that as we marked the feast day of St. Ita, one of Ireland’s great female saints, and conscious of the appalling violence that Ashling suffered, we should acknowledge to one another just how vital it is to promote a culture that is clearly and unambiguously opposed to violence, especially violence against women. “We need to shout this message from the rooftops and that message needs to be promoted and heard at all levels, in our schooling, in our sports clubs, in our churches and in our families”. Inviting St Ita to intercede for us, Bishop Brendan urged that we will all do our part always, to promote a culture of respect and care and protection of one another, especially of women, and that all men will recognise the unique dignity of each woman, and that the  motto;. ‘’no to violence and abuse of any type’ will be written deep in our heart.” Fr. Dan then continued with the prayers of the faithful and in them he prayed for women trapped in coercive relationships, women who are manipulated and controlled, women who have to hide bruises, who live in fear of the next attack, women who are bullied, underpaid and undervalued and he asked  that we ourselves will be vigilant and sensitive to signs of anxiety or distress in our own community and may we always have the courage to stand in solidarity with those who may have no one else to turn to.

GLÓRACH BINGO:  Committee member and PRO Lorcan Curtin has filed the following “Incredible weather and it showed with the large crowd who turned up at the GAA grounds on Sunday afternoon. No difficulties with the sound system, it had been reported that it was heard the previous week as far as Ballybehy South!  And word must be spreading across the valleys that we’re doing something right, with a couple travelling all the way from Cork city.  Good vibes all round, another couple of days like this and the winter will be very firmly in the rear view mirror.  No resting on our laurels, see ye all at the usual starting time of 1.30 pm on January 23.”

BLOOD Donors wanted especially O-, A- and B-, due to covid restrictions, supplies are low.

WRITE A SHORT STORY:  If you are a member of the ICA you might consider entering their competition to write a short story entitled “The Window” max 2,000 words, the closing date is January 28 for entries.

MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGE: on June 15 – 22 flying Cork to Dubrovnik (morning flight) with Aer Lingus staying in Hotel Leone. Spiritual Director Fr. Ted Sheehan. COVID insurance cover included in cost. Contact Sean at 0862959380.

SIAMSA TÍRE:  Learn traditional Irish music, song, and dance with a range of online and in-person classes starting at Siamsa Tíre at the end of January. These classes will be taught by four members of Siamsa Tíre’s professional cast of performers: dancer Jonathan Kelliher, musician and composer Tom Hanafin, and singers Joanne Barry and Martina Ryan Murphy. More details (https://kerrycoco.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b3755ab5575cb711eac9566f8&id=0e0267a91a&e=57e387efec)