by Tom Aherne

GUARDS ANNIVERSARY: On this Friday October 20 at 1pm St Kieran’s Heritage Association in conjunction with An Garda Siochana will commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the arrival of the Civic Guard’s/An Gardai  Siochana to Ardagh Garda Barracks September 20, 1923. We and members of An Gardai, present and past, family members of Gardai who served in Ardagh and Gardai from the locality will march from Ardagh Railway Station (The Greenway) to the site where the Gardai Barracks was situated. We will also on the day honour the 175th anniversary of the presentation to William Smith O’Brien and the Young Irelander’s by the French of the Irish Tricolour, the Green White and  Orange. The Ardagh Garda Barracks which was destroyed accidently by fire in 1959 is only about one hundred metres away from Ardagh Ford where the famous Ardagh Chalice was found. Afterwards light refreshments will be served in Ardagh Community Centre. We extend an invitation to all to join us on the day October 20, and starting at 1pm from the Greenway Ardagh Railway Station.

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 commenced at select locations last Saturday and Sunday October 14/15 with Peaky Blinders, Calendar Girls, The Snapper and Fr Ted being completed. It will conclude with the remaining three next weekend October 21/22. 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.

ARDAGH ICA: The Ardagh ICA Guild members would like to extend a big thank you to all for the very generous support for the Coffee Morning  held recently in Ardagh Hall in aid of Milford Hospice.  The amount realised totalled € 1,445, which has been forwarded directly to Milford Hospice.

OLD MILL LADIES: Old Mill lost to Dromcollogher/Broadford by 0-12 to 0-11 in the County Senior Ladies B Football Final played at Raheenagh on Sunday October 8. The junior ladies team defeated Knockainey by 4-11 to 2-13 at Cappagh to progress to the county final fixed for Saturday October 21. The club are still accepting a range of used clothes in their orange bin located beside their clubhouse. Their club AGM has been fixed for Tuesday November 28 at the Clubhouse and all are welcome.

SOCCER NEWS: Carrig Celtic defeated Glantine 6-1 in Division 3 of the Desmond League on Sunday October 8, in Templeglantine. Their goals were scored by John Byrnes, Kieran O’Connor, Seanie King, Denny Greaney, Seanie Dwyer, Callum Coughlan. No other junior men’s or ladies’ team were in action.

GAELIC GAMES: St Kieran’s lost to Croagh/Kilfinny/Rathkeale by 1-15 to 0-10 in the Under 17 Hurling Division 3 Championship Final at Mick Neville Park Rathkeale on Saturday October 14. Team Alex O’Sullivan, Joey Mc Clellan, Conor Mc Mahon, Bryan Sheehan, Shane O’Mahony, Eoghan Sheehan, David O’Connell, Sean Long, Cillian Meade, Cormac Murphy, Jack O’Sullivan, Gavin Thompson, Derry O’Conner, Charlie Mc Mahon, Luke Mulcahy. Subs Josh Daly, Oisin Commane, Darragh Mullane.

LOTTERY DRAW: The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery   draw took place on Monday October 9. The numbers drawn were 2,4,11,15, and  there was  no  winner of the € 14,900 Jackpot. Congratulations  to the five lucky dip winners who received  € 40 each: Noreen Carr Old Mill, Brenda Mc Mahon, Athea, Pat Dalton Carrigkerry c/o Greaney’s, John Doyle Carrigkerry, Erin Hennessy Carrigkerry. Next Monday night’s jackpot will  be € 15,000. 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 Eoin Mc Enery Skehanagh.  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 Michelle Dowling Newcastle West, who won € 235, in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday October 13.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.

SPLIT THE POT: Congratulations to Michelle Kelly,  who won €  500, in the September, Creeves Celtic FC Split the Pot monthly draw held at the Thatch Newbridge on October 12. 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.

MASS CHANGE: Ardagh/Carrigkerry parish weekend Mass  has changed from October 14/15, 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. Mass is celebrated in St Kyran’s Church Coolcappa on Saturdays at 7.30pm.

RAMBLING HOUSE: A rambling house will be held at Ballyhahill Hall on Wednesday October 18, at 8.30pm. All musicians, singers, storytellers, dancers and listeners  are welcome to attend. Ita’s Rambling House will be held at the Desmond Complex on Friday  October 20, at 8pm. All musicians, singers, storytellers, dancers and listeners  are welcome to attend.

HISTORICAL TALKS: The  Rathkeale and District Historical Society talks have resumed for the autumn and winter season in the Community Arts Centre (above the library) Rathkeale. On Friday October 20 at 8.30pm, Claire A Mc Cormick  of University of Limerick will give a talk titled ‘ What’s in a name? The Irish Palatines, new perspectives. Attendances at individual talks is free and membership for the year is € 10.

CLOTHES COLLECTION: Kilcolman N.S., will hold a clothes collection on Friday October 27. Bags of clothes, shoes, belts, bags, bed linen(no duvets or pillows), can be dropped to the school  shelter any time  before this date. Thanks for your continued support.

SHOEBOX APPEAL: Communities across Limerick are being urged to donate gift-filled shoeboxes for children  affected by poverty  in Eastern Europe  and Africa this Christmas. The Shoebox Appeal Week runs from Monday November 6 to Sunday November 12. This week  aims to encourage people to think  about the single impact , joy and smiles that a shoebox brings to the child who receives it. All people have to do is find an empty shoebox, wrap it in Christmas paper and fill it with gifts  for a boy or a girl aged between 2 and 14, give online or attach a € 4 donation and bring it to a local drop off point  before Friday November 10. The local Limerick drop off contact is Karen Vampola  (087 2794844)  Mountcollins. People can also build a box online by donating at www. teamhope.ie The closing date is Saturday December 23. Since 2010 team Hope and  volunteers have delivered over 2.5 million Shoebox gifts to vulnerable children across the world.