by Tom Aherne
HARVEST MASS: A Harvest thanksgiving mass will be celebrated at St Molua’s Church Ardagh on Friday October 13 at 7.30pm. The organisers are asking households who have grown their own produce to bring a small sample or a couple of sods of turf etc to be placed in front of the altar. Baskets will be there to hold the produce, which Fr Michael Noonan will bless, and they can be taken home afterwards.
CHURCH VOLUNTEERS: People who would like to get involved in a pastoral team in the church are asked to attend a meeting at the Pastoral Centre Newcastle West on Tuesday October 24 from 7pm to 8pm. This is for the parishes within the unit of Ardagh/Carrigkerry, Feohanagh/Castlemahon, Monagea and Newcastle West. The current pastoral council members of each are also invited to attend. Being involved as an Eucharistic Minister, mass reader, parish life etc can be a very enriching and rewarding experience. Your attendance at this meeting will be greatly appreciated by the priests of the unit.
BISHOP MURPHY: Sunday October 8 was the 50th anniversary of the passing of Bishop Henry Murphy. Bishop John Fleming celebrated a mass in Ardpatrick Church on Saturday October 7, in remembrance. It was Bishop Henry Murphy who confirmed my school class in St Molua’s Church Ardagh in May 1968.
RONNIE LONG: I was saddened to hear of the death of Ronnie Long from Limerick aged 88 years on Saturday September 30. He was Mr Athletics as a competitor, officer, press and radio reporter during his long life well lived. He was very helpful to me when I published my book Ahearne Brothers Athea, Olympic and World Champions on August 8, 2008. Ronnie also unveiled the Wing Foot Sculpture in Athea village on the same evening. We also visited the brothers home place and met some of their relatives a short time later. May he rest in heavenly peace. A documentary telling their story was put together by Mag’s Mahony afterwards.
OSKAR REHEARSALS: The cast members of the seven films, The Snapper, Veronica Guerin, Fr Ted, Calendar Girls, Peaky Blinders, The Field and the Bridesmaids are in the final stages of rehearsals. It has been a hectic few weeks especially for the main characters of each film who have a lot of lines to learn. The cast leaders have been very busy sourcing clothing, props and locations and the actors’ growing beards, longer hair, changing shapes and generally enjoying the social side of the Oskar’s. The filming will be held at select locations over the October 14/15, and 21/22 weekends. The seven groups have been fundraising in recent months and will continue to do so in the coming weeks. All the funds raised will go towards the new field development which is progressing well. On Saturday November 11, the doors open at 6.30pm in the Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine. The show starts at 8pm. Tickets cost €30, and details will be announced later. The show is produced by Kevin Rowe Events, and it promises to be an amazing night of glitz and glamour.
HERITAGE NEWS: St Kieran’s Heritage Association held a meeting in Ardagh Hall on Thursday October 5, to update the plans to mark the 100 anniversary of the arrival of the Gardai Siochana to Ardagh village. They arrived at the Railway Station on September 20, 1923, and served until fire destroyed the barracks on November 10, 1959. Friday October 20, at 1pm is the date chosen to commemorate their arrival. It is planned to hold a march from the Railway Station to the original barrack building beyond the top cross at Rearasta. Members of the Garda band on foot and mounted will provide musical accompaniment. It is planned to mark the 175 anniversary of the presentation of the Irish Tricolour from France to the Irish by raising the flag inside its new holder at St Molua’s Church along the way.The search is on for relatives of the members who served in Ardagh over the 36 years. If readers have any information the association would be delighted to receive it. It would be lovely to have some of the relatives present to participate in the proceedings. Past members who have served in the guards from around the locality are most welcome to attend plus their relatives. An art competition is ongoing in the local national schools to mark the anniversary. Their work will be displayed in Ardagh Hall on Friday October 20 and prizes will be awarded to the best creations. All are welcome to attend the events on October 20 and refreshments will be served.
LADIES FOOTBALL: Congratulations to Old Mill ladies on their win in the County Under 14 final, defeating Mungret by 4-6 to 2-3 at UL on Sunday October 1. Congratulations to Róisín Ambrose from the club who has been nominated for the Junior Ladies Player of the Year Award.
GAELIC GAMES: St Kieran’s defeated Ballysteen by 4-11 to 3-6 in the West Junior B Football Championship semi final at Athea on Sunday October 1. They led by 3-9 to no score at half time and eased their way to a meeting with Knockaderry in the final on October 21. TEAM: Ray Noonan, Ian Mackessy, Cillian Heffernan, Shay Greaney, Shane Fitzgerald, Daniel Geraghty, Jack Mulqueen, Lorcan Murphy, James O’Connor, Cathal Mc Enery, Jack Harnett, Fionn Gleeson, Tom Mc Mahon, John Doyle, Darragh Mc Mahon. Subs Mike Flynn, Conor Woulfe, Brian O’Neill, Eamon Ambrose, Padraig Trant, Dan Duggan, Cormac Murphy.
St Kieran’s lost to Askeaton by 2-19 to 1-17 in round one of group one of the County Under 21 B Hurling Championship at Mick Neville Park on Saturday October 7. Team Tom Mc Mahon, William Steele, Cillian Heffernan, Shay Greaney, Darragh Mc Mahon, Aaron Heffernan, Cathal Mc Enery 0-3, Fionn Gleeson 0-3, Mikey Long, Conor Woulfe0-2, Sean Ryan 0-1, Cathal O’Connor 1-6, Shane Fitzgerald 0-1 Cormac Thompson 0-1, Con Enright. Subs Lorcan Murphy, Conor Colbert,
SOCCER NEWS: Creeves Celtic lost 2-0 away to Lifford Celtic in the first round of the FAI Junior Cup on Sunday October 1. Carrig Celtic drew 2-2 with Breska Rovers B in Group A of the Division 3 League Cup with goals from Denny Greaney and Seanie King. Kilcolman Rovers lost 3-1 away to Glantine. In the Desmond Ladies Premier League Cup Group B Kilcolman Rovers lost 1-0 away to Ballingarry. Creeves Celtic defeated Ballingarry B in the Division 1 Group B League Cup with a hat trick of goals from Angela Sheehan.
LOTTERY DRAW: The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery draw took place on Monday October 2. The numbers drawn were 4,19,25,26, and there was no winner of the € 14,800 Jackpot. Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who received € 40 each Michael and Peg O’Connor Glenastar, Maggie and Rob c/o Josie, Catherine Mullins c/o Greaney’s, George Daly Newcastle West, Maggie and Josie c/o Josie. Next Monday night’s jackpot will be € 14,900. 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. NOTE For the month of October an extra lucky dip of €100 will be added to the five lucky dips drawn each week to mark the 30th anniversary of its formation. This week’s winner was Shane Ambrose Dunganville. On November 6, the first lucky dip winner will receive a € 500 holiday voucher. Both organizations wish to thank all the people for their continued support.
RADIO DRAW: Congratulations to Mike Neville Castlemahon, who won € 250, in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday October 6.The tickets cost € 2, or3 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.
OSKAR FUNDRAISERS: A number of fundraising events will be held by the St Kieran’s GAA Club in the run up to the Oskar night in the Devon Inn on Saturday November 11. The cast of” Fr Ted” will hold a fundraising Concert Night in Ardagh Hall on Friday October 13, from 8pm. The Bridesmaids cast will hold a clothes collection in Ardagh and Coolcappa on November 4, and 5.
FUNDRAISING CONCERT : The cast of” Fr Ted” will hold a fundraising traditional sit-down concert in Ardagh Hall on Friday October 13, from 8pm, as part of the St Kieran’s Oskar’s fundraising for the new field development at Ardagh. On stage will be musicians, singers, storytellers and step dancers. Artists due to appear include Donie Nolan, Donal O’Sullivan, Diarmuid O’Brien, Aileen Dillane, Gerard Liston, Ann Marie Burke, Ardagh/Carrigkerry Comhaltas group, O’Connor Family plus others. A raffle will be held for spot prizes, admission € 10 adults, € 5 child. A great traditional night is promised, and all are welcome.
SINGING CLUB: The Garry Mc Mahon Singing Weekend hosted by the West Limerick Singing Club will take place in Abbeyfeale from Friday October 13, to Sunday 15. An action weekend is promised.
SCOR FINALS: The County Senior Scór Finals will take place at the Community Hall Askeaton on Saturday October 14 at 8pm. The question time finals will take place at Mungret GAA Clubhouse on Friday October 13, at 8pm.
MASS CHANGE: Ardagh/Carrigkerry parish weekend Mass from October 14/15, will change for the autumn/winter months as follows. Mass will be celebrated in Saint Molua’s Church Ardagh on Saturdays at 6.30pm and in St Mary’s Church Carrigkerry on Sunday’s at 11am.
SET CÉILÍ: A set Céilí will be held in Halla Tadgh Gaelach Tournafulla ( Eircode V42AP84) on Sunday October 15, from 3-6pm. Music by Ger Murphy and Liam Healy, tea served, and admission is € 12. Contact Kenneth- 086 8841702. It will be the first Céilí held there since the spring of 2020 before Covid.