By Tom Aherne

The Copse family Glensharrold had an amazing house Lights display last Christmas. They would like to thank everyone  who called to see the display and a number of business people for their donations and  support.  The total raised was €6,400 which they divided equally between their chosen charities Pieta House Limerick and Milford Hospice Limerick. They recently presented representatives of both with cheques for €3,200.

St Kieran’s GAA Club continue to progress their facilities at Ardagh and intend to apply to Limerick City and County Council for further development. They plan to construct a playing pitch, entrance to public road, site boundary fencing, car parking and ancillary site works and services, at the townlands of Cross and Ministerland. There is great credit due to the club who continue to put in place better facilities for its members and the wider community.

The draws for this year’s Limerick County football and hurling championship were held  on Tuesday, February 22. In senior football 12 teams contest the championship in two groups of six. St Kieran’s  in group 2 are paired with Galtee Gaels, Adare, Ballysteen, Ballylanders and Kildimo/Pallaskenry. The top three from both groups progress to the knockout stages. In Junior A hurling 24 teams contest the championship in four groups of six. St Kieran’s in group 3 are paired with Askeaton, Feenagh/Kilmeedy, Mungret, Ballybrown and Doon. The top two teams from each group progress to the quarter finals.

Limerick defeated Offaly  by 3-4  to 1-6 in Round 2 of Division 4 of the National Ladies Football League  played at Fr. John Ryan Memorial Park, Kilbreedy on Sunday, February 20. The Old Mill club were represented by Sophie Hennessy in goals, Captain Róisín Ambrose mid field and Iris Kennelly (1-1)  at half forward. Cathy Ambrose is a panel member.

Darragh Treacy from the St Kieran’s club was a member of the Limerick football team  who lost to Louth by 1-14 to 1-12 in  match two in Division 3 of the National Football League  played at UL Limerick all weather pitch  on Sunday,  February 20. Sean Ryan lined out at corner back for the Under 20 footballers who lost to Clare in round 1 of the Liam O’Connor Cup played at UL on Saturday, February 19. Seamus O’Donnell is the team manager. St Kieran’s participated in the Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé club tournament in Gallarus in West Kerry last Saturday. In the opening match they lost to Rosscarbery Rangers Cork 3-5 to 1-1, and in their second group match to Castlebar Mitchell’s  Mayo, 4-1 to 2-6.

The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery draw took place on Monday, February 21. The numbers drawn were 3, 15, 18, and 24, and there was  no  winner of the €6,500 Jackpot.  Congratulations  to the five lucky dip winners who received  €40 each: Mike Donovan c/o Eileen Collins, David Woulfe (Online), Pat Dalton c/o Denis Greaney, Senan Meade (Online), Matty Woods Ballyhahill c/o Moloney’s. Next Monday night’s jackpot will  be €6,600. 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 Betty Keane, Ballyine, Old Mill  who won €350, in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday, February 25. 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.

Ash Wednesday Mass today, March 2, at 9.30am in St Molua’s Church Ardagh and in St Colman’s Church Kilcolman. Mass in St Kyran’s Church Coolcappa at 10.30am. Liturgy of the Word with distribution of ashes in St Mary’s Church Carrigkerry at 6.30pm. Ashes will be distributed at all three masses and will be available for collection afterwards in the churches. Fr. Michael Noonan  will make his usual calls around Ardagh/Carrigkerry on Thursday and Friday, March 3/4. First Saturday devotions will be held in St Molua’s Church. Ardagh at 10am on March 5,  with adoration and rosary followed by mass at 11am. Adoration is held in St Molua’s Church, Ardagh every Monday from 10am to 12 noon and all are welcome. Eucharistic Adoration is held in St Kyran’s Church on Thursdays from 10- 11am and in St Colman’s Church on Fridays from 8-9pm. The weekly mass times are St Kyran’s Church Tuesday and Thursday at 9.30am and St Colman’s on Wednesday at 9.30am and Fridays at 7.30pm.

Shoestring Theatre Company Charleville are staging the eagerly awaited production of John B Keane’s Many Young Men of Twenty over the coming weekends at the Schoolyard Theatre, Charleville. Local interest will centre on Ger Liston from Coolcappa who plays the part of Danger Mullaly. The play opens at the Schoolyard on Saturday, March 5, and Sunday 6, and on the following weekends. Booking is available on 087-1804870.

A fundraising clothes collection will be held on Friday, March 11 in Coolcappa national School.  This is an opportunity  for households to do a spring clear out and all support will be appreciated.

The Limerick Scór Na Nóg 2022 finals will be held at the Millennium Theatre TUS on Saturday, March 12. The junior Scór event is for under 17 years and there are 8 events which cover singing, music, dancing question time and novelty. The events are figure dancing, solo singing, recitation/storytelling, Instrumental music, novelty/drama, ballad group and set dancing. The question time will take place at 12 noon and the other 7 events from 2pm. More details can be got from the GAA clubs and  from the county Scór  committee.

A feast of traditional music is promised at an upcoming concert which will be held in the Longcourt House Hotel Newcastle West on Friday, March 18 at 8pm. The night will also see the local launch of three CDs from West Limerick musicians. The CDs were launched at other venues and with Covid restrictions easing it is an opportune time to share their musical talents with local audiences. The CDs are Back in Time from Dan Brouder Monagea on accordion and partner Angelina Carbery Longford on banjo last year’s TG4 Gradam Ceoil traditional  musician of the year.  They didn’t come home until Morning from Francis and Aine O’Connor Broadford, Abroad in the Back Kitchen from Diarmuid O’Brien Glin and Donal O’Sullivan Carrigkerry. All six musicians are widely known in traditional music circles having appeared on TV Radio and at the top venues around Ireland and beyond. After two years of near inactivity this night promises to raise the spirits and rediscover the atmosphere created at a live concert.

Athea Drama group present Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel at Con Colbert Memorial Hall on Thursday March 3, Friday 4, Saturday 5, Sunday 6. The doors open at 7pm with curtain up at 7.30pm each evening. Booking is necessary and no walk ins allowed. The tickets cost €10 and ring 087- 6926746 to book a seat. The Spike Players Knocknagoshel present For Better or For Worse in Knocknagoshel Community Centre on  Friday March 4, Saturday 5, Sunday 6 at 8pm. To reserve tickets, call 087-7050670.

Dancing classes have resumed after the easing of the Covid restrictions in the parish hall in Ballyhahill on Monday nights from 8.30pm. Social dancing has also returned in the Resource Centre Knockaderry on Saturday nights. Dance classes are held on Monday nights at 8pm, catering for jive/waltz etc.

The  Creeves Celtic Split the Pot monthly draw  will be held at the end of February. Tickets to enter the draw are available from committee members, at Neary’s Bar, Ardagh, Thatch Bar,  Newbridge and Hanley’s Shop, Creeves. All support greatly appreciated.

International Women’s Day takes place this year on Tuesday, March 8. The emphasis this year is on equality and inclusion.

Covid restrictions meant that the annual Daffodil Day fundraiser was not held in person since 2019. The good news is that the community fundraisers can be held again this year on Friday March 25. People who wish to get involved can register with the Irish Cancer Society.

Knockdown Vintage Club are holding a fundraising raffle at present in aid of the Irish  Community Air Ambulance. The tickets cost €2 each or three tickets for €5. The first prize is  a €150 voucher for the O’Donoghue Rings Hotels Killarney.  Second prize is a € 100 voucher for home heating oil. Third prize is a monster hamper, and there are a number of other prizes as well. The draw takes place in the Knockdown Arms on Sunday, March 27 following the vintage run, with music by Big Maggie/Billy from 4-6pm. Contact Patrick Langan or Dave Noonan for more details and all support will be greatly appreciated.

Recently I came across my first  By Carrig Side notes published in the newsletter of February 25^th 2004. A lot of water has flown under Athea Bridge in those 18 years. A lot of credit is due to all the people who have been involved in the newsletter since its first copy back in the late 1990s and long may it continue.