By Tom Aherne
The St Kieran’s GAA Club charity road hurling event held on Monday, December 27, was a great success. The attendance was the largest to date and the amount collected was by far the highest through this very popular event. The total raised was €5,240 which was shared equally between two charities and the presentation of cheques were held recently. The chosen charities this year were Milford Care Centre Limerick and St Gabriel’s Play Fund in Temple St. Dublin. Club member Orin Hough received great attention and care in the latter. The club in appreciation would like to thank everybody involved in staging and participating in the event.
Darragh Treacy from the St Kieran’s club was a member of the Limerick football team who defeated Wicklow by 1-13 to 1-9 in round 4 in Division 3 of the National Football League played at Aughrim on Saturday, February 26. The very first St Kieran’s camogie training session took place in the Astro turf and ball wall in Ardagh on Saturday, February 26, with 37 girls aged between 6 and 13 taking part.
St Kieran’s GAA Rounders are inviting players to join their club which was formed last summer. Training will be commencing shortly in Ardagh, and more details from Deirdre at 087-9509218 or Emma at 087-6293602. The Ireland Lights Up walk finished on Friday, February 25 after the six week duration. The good news is that the walk continues until the new time comes in on the last Sunday of March. Meet every Wednesday and Friday evenings at 6.45pm at the Astro pitch and everyone is welcome.
In the Desmond Ladies League Kilcolman Rovers defeated Creeves Celtic 4-0 in the Munster Junior Cup first round on Sunday, February 27. Ciara Downes 2, Charlotte Lynch and Erin Hennessy scored the goals. In the men’s league Creeves Celtic V Shannonside was off.
Congratulations to Francis O’Farrell who won €523 in the sixth Creeves Celtic FC Split the Pot monthly draw last weekend. 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.
The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery draw took place on Monday, February 28. The numbers drawn were 7, 8, 11 and 18 and there was no winner of the €6,600 Jackpot. Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who received €40 each: Alva Quaid (Online), Theresa Quaid, The Cross c/o Denis Greaney, Sean Downey, Lisgordan, Susan Moriarty (Online), Mary Steele, Ardagh. Next Monday night’s jackpot will be €6,700. 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 Joe Dore Killeedy who won €450, in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday, March 4.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 following are the St Kieran’s GAA club membership rates for 2022. The Club Limerick Draw cost €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.
Gerry Keogh from Killoughteen has a new CD Music and Song on sale at Moloney’s Shop, Carrigkerry. Coming from a very musical family it is a welcome addition to the list of all the local entertainers who have released their own music and song albums and CDs.
The recent passing of Con Connery from Kilmallock recalled memories of the Vantones band who performed regularly on the music scene around the locality. They played regularly at the Country Club Lounge in Carrigkerry and for St Kieran’s GAA Club dinner dances. They were very popular as a showband and later as a family group.
The Stations of the Cross will be held each Sunday during Lent at Calvary Cemetery, Newcastle West at 2.30pm and all are welcome.
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 the clothes can be dropped to the school. All support will be appreciated by the organisers.
The Limerick Scór Na Nóg 2022 finals will be held at Pallasgreen Community Centre 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.
The Milford Care Centre 10k walk and run will be held at 12 noon at the University of Limerick on Sunday, March 13. The event is open to runners and walkers of all levels and abilities. The cost of registration is €25.Cash prizes for the first three male and female participants to finish will be awarded. For more details contact the fundraising team at www.milfordcarecentre.ieor telephone 061-485860
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 and the admission is €5. The night will also see the local launch of three CDs from West Limerick musicians. The CDs were launched recently at other outside 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 award winner, They didn’t come home until Morning from Francis and Aine O’Connor, Ardagh and 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 traditional concert.
People are looking forward to the return of the St Patrick’s Day parades around the county. One of the largest and most enjoyable parades outside of Limerick city is Rathkeale The organisers are asking people in bands, clubs, businesses etc wishing to participate to contact the following Pat Neville of Rathkeale Community Council 087-2791240 or Derek Downes of Team Rathkeale at 085-8125700 by Sunday, March 13. St Kieran’s Heritage Association members have been invited to take part in Rathkeale and in the Adare parade which returns this year after an absence of 23 years. There will be no parade in Newcastle West this year.
The very popular Ronan Collins Showband Show ‘Reeling in the Showband Years’ returns to the Limerick University Concert Hall on Sunday, March 20. This will be the show’s twelfth year touring and filling theatres around the country. Ronan Collins is the host and compeer and the show includes a strong line up of entertainers. Tickets are on sale at UCH AT 061-331549 and online at www.uch.ie
Covid restrictions meant that the annual Daffodil Day fundraiser was not held in person since 2019. The good news is that community fundraisers can be held again this year on Friday, March 25. People who wish to get involved in holding an event, can register with the Irish Cancer Society.
This year’s Census date has been announced for Sunday April 3 and the forms will be distributed to households in the coming weeks.
of the final award. Sophie Hennessy was a member of the Mary Immaculate College team that won the Giles Cup.
Congratulations to Kate Foley, Old Mill and St Mary’s Athletic Club, Rathkeale who recently won a bronze medal in the Under 17 400 metres event at the Munster Juvenile Track and Field event. She has now qualified for the National Finals which will be held in Athlone.
The next West Limerick 102FM Radio 50/50 draw will be held on Friday March 25, at 12.45pm, on the Exchange Show presented by Shirley O’Regan. 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 Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has launched a national campaign seeking volunteers. Last year calls for help (191,000) was a record one for the society up by 12% on the number of calls received in 2020. The qualities required of a volunteer include kindness, compassion, discretion, respect and being non-judgemental. Volunteering with SVP involves working with and supporting the largest and oldest voluntary charitable organisation in Ireland. The time commitment is usually 3-5 hours weekly and training will be provided. To become a SVP volunteer call 01 884 8246, or visit svp.ie/volunteer
Geoff Hunt will be leading a nature walk in the Castle Demesne Newcastle West on behalf of Limerick Branch Birdwatch Ireland on Saturday March 26. at 11am.Meeting at the main car park. He will identify birds, plants, insects etc. Copies of the book Newcastle West Biodiversity Survey will be available. All are welcome.