By Tom Aherne
CLERK’S COLLECTION: Ardagh/Carrigkerry parish clerk’s Bernard and Mary wish to say a sincere thank you to all who contributed to their recent annual collection. Your generosity is very much appreciated. People who may have missed out can still do so this coming week.
ROADWORKS: Limerick Council last week resurfaced a section of the road from McMahon’s Grove, Glensharrold to Kate Daly’s Cross, Kerrikyle. This road was badly in need of attention as it was neglected in the past as it was between the old Newcastle West and Rathkeale areas. Thanks to all the workers involved in the upgrade.
GAELIC GAMES: St. Kieran’s player John Doyle is a member of the Limerick Masters football 36-man team/panel who defeated Waterford by 3-8 to 1-11 the first round of the All -Ireland championship in Kirwan Park the Nire Valley Waterford on Saturday, May 6. They play Kerry next in Killeedy on Saturday, May 27.
St. Kieran’s defeated Dromcollogher/Broadford by 2-18 to 4-11 in Group 2 of the West Junior B Hurling League played at Dromcollogher on Sunday May 7. St. Kieran’s defeated Kilmallock by 1-19 to 0-14 in the Under 17 Hurling league semi-final at Kilmallock on Friday, May 12.
The club will be holding a family fun day in aid of the new field development in Ardagh in the Astro/community field on Sunday June 4. It will be a Father Ted/ Craggy Island theme day and more details nearer the date.
SOCCER NEWS: In the Desmond league last week Creeves Celtic had no match and Carrig Celtic received a walkover from Feenagh in the first round of the Richard Hogan cup. In Division 1 of the Desmond Ladies League Creeves Celtic defeated Feenagh by 1-0 in Feenagh with Linda O’Brien scoring the goal that secured the team the runners -up position.
LOTTERY DRAW: The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery draw took place on Monday, May 8. The numbers drawn were 1,9,23,28, and there was no winner of the €12,700 Jackpot. Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who received €40 each: Margaret Carroll, Shanagolden (Online), John Murphy, c/o Neary’s, Tommy Greaney, Kilcolman c/o Greaney’s, Phillip Madden, Ardagh c/o Neary’s, Maureen Noonan, Ardagh. Next Monday night’s jackpot will be €12,800. 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.
RADIO DRAW: Congratulations to Eileen Enright, Monagea, who won €275, in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday, May 12. 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.
GROTTO ROSARY: The Holy Rosary will be recited at Churchtown Grotto each evening during May at 6pm. At the Grotto in Cahermoyle and the Marian Shrine, Rathkeale every evening during the month of May at 6.30 pm and all are welcome.
CLOTHING COLLECTION: The Old Mill Ladies football club are seeking donations of unwanted clothing to help raise funds at present. The donated items can be placed inside their new orange bin beside their clubhouse. Their annual walk held on Sunday, May 7, was an outstanding success and they thank all people involved in staging it.
HISTORY EXHIBITION: The Thomond Archaeological and Historical Society are holding an exhibition celebrating 130 years of local history at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick at present. On display are rare early photographs, published journals and artefacts. It is open to the public Monday to Saturday from 11am to 4pm in St. Mary’s Cathedra, King’s Island. An optional donation to the Cathedral for admission is suggested.
HISTORY CONFERENCE: A history conference to mark the centenary of the end of the Civil War will be held at the Desmond Castle Newcastle West on Wednesday, May 17 at 7.30pm. Three historians will make presentations and a question-and-answer session will follow. John O’Callaghan will speak about the Limerick key events, John Dorney will examine the Limerick deaths, Liz Gillis will speak about the role of women in the conflict. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend and view the renovated site which was the location of fighting between the pro and anti-treaty forces on August 7, 1922.
RAMBLING HOUSE: The next rambling house will be held at Ballyhahill Hall on Wednesday, May 17, at 8pm. Ita’s Rambling House will be held in the Desmond Complex Newcastle West on Friday, May 19 at 7.30pm. It will be their 10th birthday and all past performers are welcome back to enjoy the celebrations. All musicians, singers’ dancers and storytellers are most welcome to attend both nights.
COMMUNITY ALERT: St. Senan’s and District Community Alert AGM will take place in the Sports Complex, Shanagolden on Wednesday, May 17 at 8pm.
ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT: The Archaeology of the Revolution in East Limerick will be featured in a special event at Galbally Community Centre on Thursday, May 18, at 7.30pm. The Landscapes of Revolution Project was established by Damian Shiels and is currently being supported by Abarta Heritage Ltd. Its aim is to develop and share techniques for the identification, interpretation and mapping of archaeology sites associated with Ireland’s revolutionary period. The project was devised in response to an urgent need to identify, analyse, interpret and map the sights and landscapes relating to the revolutionary decade.
Surprising as it may seem post-medieval sites, locations relating to the War of Independence and Civil War generally enjoy no archaeology protection, are poorly understood as heritage landscapes, and are often significantly rarer and more vulnerable than much of the medieval and prehistoric archaeology that surrounds us. Members of the team will be available at Galbally Community Centre to talk about the project, guide attendees through the story map website and record any stories or objects members of the community might have pertaining to the two wars. Contact Tim Ryan for further details on 087- 2594030.
DEBRA IRELAND: The Debra Ireland Kerry Challenge 2023 returns on Friday, May 19, Saturday 20, Sunday 21. Eamon O’Kane, Pat Toomey, Mike Histon and Joe Carrig from the Creeves/Shanagolden area will again be participating in the 3-day 75 K Hike in the Dingle Peninsula. They will be raising funds to ease the suffering of children suffering from E.B. or Butterfly Disease. All donations will be appreciated by the quartet.
CEMETERY MASSES: The following is the summer schedule for the local cemeteries courtesy of Coolcappa/Kilcolman parish newsletter. Mass will be celebrated in Kilmoylan Cemetery, Shanagolden on Sunday, May 21 at 2pm. In Shanagolden Sunday, May 28 at 2pm. In Knockpatrick Sunday, June 18 at 2pm. In Kilcolman Sunday, June 25 at 2pm. In Loughill Sunday, June 25 at 2pm. In Kilbradern Sunday, July 9 at 2pm. In Robertstown Sunday, July 16 at 2pm. In Mount Pleasant, Sunday, August 6 at 2pm. In Glin Church grounds, Sunday, August 13 at 7.30pm. In Coolcappa, Tuesday, August 15 at 7.30pm. In Kilfergus, Sunday, August 20 at 7.30 pm. In Kinnard, Monday, August 21 at 7.30pm. In Clonagh on Sunday, September 3 at 2pm.
CONFIRMATION: The Ceremony of Confirmation will be celebrated on Thursday, May 25, in St. Mary’s Church, Carrigkerry at 10am and in St. Molua’s Church, Ardagh at 11.30am.
HOLY COMMUNION: The First Holy Communion Ceremony will be celebrated in St. Kyran’s Church, Coolcappa on Saturday, May 27 at 10.30am and in St. Colman’s Church, Kilcolman on Saturday, May 27 at 12.30pm.