By Tom Aherne
Since Monday October 3, Local Link has introduced a new route 595, three times daily service between Tarbert and Croom with stops at Glin, Athea, Carrigkerry, Ardagh, Newcastle West and Ballingarry. The new seven-day service will also provide access to the Greenway at Ardagh and Newcastle West. The local link fares have also been reduced by an average of 20% since last April. The new service is to be welcomed and hopefully people will avail of it.
Limerick Council recently commenced work at the traffic light junction top Cross Ardagh. They are building up the land bank on the Newcastle West side to enable them to provide drainage, footpaths and public lighting. The reason for the work is to provide enhanced safety features on this road for residents within the 50kmph speed limit.
Congratulations and best wishes to Ardagh’s Paul Mullins who won €330,000 in the Euro millions draw at Boyle Sports Branch in Newcastle West on Friday September 30. His €10 investment turned into a fortune when his four numbers came out. He is currently the owner of the Glen Bar, Kilmeedy and other properties locally after returning from America where he worked in construction.
Congratulations and best wishes in the future to Mary Sheedy, Rooskagh and Newcastle West who recently celebrated her 80th birthday with family members.
St Kieran’s GAA club pitch development is up and running after the official launch on Friday, September 30. The pitch will proceed in three phases subject to funding with phase 1 due to commence this winter with land acquisition fencing, subsoil movement, walkway started and drainage. People can offer financial assistance by donating in a number of ways: Monthly instalments and a lump sum, through Club force, or directly to the club’s bank account. The club as an approved sports body with Revenue can claim tax relief on donations over €250 in a calendar year. Business sponsorship options are also available. A brochure outlining the development, which is estimated to cost €350,000, should be sent to all households to view in the coming weeks. Contact any of the Club Development Committee for further details on how to become involved. All financial support will be appreciated.
St. Kieran’s defeated Ballysteen by 1-9 to 2-4 in the West Junior B Football Championship semi-final played at the Bog Garden Rathkeale on Sunday, October 2. St Kieran’s trailed by 2-3 to 0-5 at half time. TEAM: Ray Noonan, Eamon Ambrose, Cillian Heffernan, Conor Kelly, Eoin Burke, James O’Connor, Brian O’Neill, Daniel Geraghty, Mikey Long, Tom McMahon, John Doyle, Liam Upton, Darragh O’Connor, Darragh McMahon, Conor Woulfe. Subs Aongus Gannon, Kevin Guina.
St Kieran’s lost to Knockaderry by 3-11 to 1-5 in the final played at the same venue on Saturday, October 8. They trailed by 1-9 to 1-1 at half time. TEAM: Ray Noonan, Eamon Ambrose, Cillian Heffernan, Conor Kelly, Eoin Burke, James O’Connor, Brian O’Neill, Mike Flynn, John Doyle, Liam Upton, Daniel Geraghty, Mikey Long, Conor Woulfe, Kevin Guina, Darragh McMahon, Subs Tom McMahon, Aongus Gannon, Brian Crowley, Darragh O’Connor, Pa O’Sullivan.
St Kieran’s lost to Ballybricken-Bohermore- Fedamore by 4-3 to 1-6 in the County Under 15 Football Division 3 Shield Final at Mick Neville Park on Saturday, October 8. They trailed by 2-1 to 1-3 at half time TEAM: Mark Sheahan, Chris Kiely, Conor McMahon, Cormac Murphy, Joey McClellan, Luke Mulcahy, Mikey Kelly, Eoghan Sheehan, Gearoid Walsh, Shane O’Mahony, Shane Daly, Eoghan Cummane, Charlie McMahon. They defeated St Senan’s by 1-4 to 1-1 in the semi-final at Coolcappa on Tuesday, October 4.
Congratulations to Linda Lodge, Coolcappa native and Old Mill club who was a member of the Michael Cusack’s ladies football team that defeated Cormac McAnallens by 1-11 to 0-2 in the recent final of the New South Wales Championship. She was joined on the team by the three Cunningham sisters Róisín, Áine and Eimear from Killeedy.
All the Desmond League men’s and ladies’ soccer fixtures were called off on Sunday, October 2, as a mark of respect for the late Michael Hanley of Foynes, who was a former Chairman of the League. Creeves Celtic defeated Kilcornan 3-0 away in Round 2 of the Munster Junior Cup, with Seamus Mangan, Andrew Meade and Tommy Dillane scoring their goals.
Congratulations to Tara Rocca who won €500 in the September thirteenth Creeves Celtic FC Split the Pot monthly draw. Tickets to enter the draw are available from committee members, club managers, at Neary’s Ardagh, Inver five crossroads Rathkeale and the Thatch Newbridge. All support will be greatly appreciated.
The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery draw took place on Monday, October 3. The numbers drawn were 3, 8, 29, 30, and there was no winner of the €9,700 Jackpot. Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who received €40 each: Peter Buston, Reens c/o Neary’s, Sean Ryan, Coolacokera, Patricia McCarthy, Askeaton, Cormac Behan, Carrigkerry (Online), Jack Flaherty, Carrigkerry c/o Moore’s. Next Monday night’s jackpot will be €9,800. 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 Josie O’Connor, Glensharrold, Carrigkerry who won €175 in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw held on Friday, October 7. The tickets cost €2, or 3 for €5 and they are available from volunteers, in local shops, (including Moloneys 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 Rosary is being recited at Churchtown Grotto each evening at 6pm during the month of October and all are welcome to join in.
A series of free musical, dance and poetry performances will be held at the Desmond Castle in Newcastle West each Sunday evening at 6pm during the month of October. On Sunday, October 16, Mikie Smyth will give a Uilleann Pipe Recital. On Sunday, October 23, a Concertina Recital by Padraig MacAodhgáin accompanied by Conor O’Sullivan on guitar. The performances will take place in the atmospheric surrounds of the fully restored medieval banqueting hall, where for centuries past performers entertained the Earls of Desmond. For more information phone 069-77408
St Kieran’s Heritage Association are holding their next meeting on Wednesday, October 12, at 8pm in Ardagh Hall. All are welcome with a special welcome for new members.
A fundraising Céilí in aid of TLC4CF (Tipperary, Limerick, Clare for Cystic Fibrosis) will take place at Mungret St. Pauls GAA Clubhouse (Eircode V94 AO 62) on Friday, October 14, from 9pm to midnight. Admission is €10 and all are welcome. By donating to TLC4CF you can make a difference to the quality of life for people with Cystic Fibrosis. TCL4CF aims to develop and improve services and facilities for people with CF in the mid-West region of Ireland.
The Garry McMahon Singing Weekend hosted by the West Limerick Singing Club will take place in Abbeyfeale from Friday, October 14 to Sunday 16. The official opening is by special guest Éamonn Ó hArgáin, Uachtaran Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann at the Ramble Inn on Friday night at 8pm. It will be followed at 9pm by a singing session in the Ramble Inn. A history and song talk by Martin Moore, historian, will be held in Fr Casey’s Clubhouse at 11am, on Saturday. The newly composed ballad competition will be held at the Ramble Inn at 2.30pm. Mass for deceased members and friends of the West Limerick Singing Club will be celebrated in the Church of the Assumption, Abbeyfeale at 6-30pm. A singing session will follow at 9pm venue to be announced. An impromptu singing session will begin Sunday’s events at a venue and time to be announced. Grand Concert and tribute to Philip Enright will be held in Fr. Casey’s Clubhouse at 2.30pm. Concert tickets €10 to include raffle tickets. Farewell singing session in the Ramble Inn from 9pm, will conclude the weekend activities.