by Tom Aherne

OSKAR NIGHT: The Oskar rehearsals are over, and the films have been acted out and the journey is nearing its end.   On this Saturday November 11, the doors open at 6.30pm in the Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine, for the Oskar final night in aid of the St Kieran’s GAA Club field development fund. The show starts at 8pm, and tickets are like gold dust. The show is produced by Kevin Rowe Events, and it promises to be an amazing night viewing the local actors/actresses  showcase their talents in seven films. Interviews will be shown, and  Oskar’s will be awarded by the celebrity judges in several  categories during the show, plus a DJ to end the night.

WEDDING AWARD: Congratulations to Kilcolman native Marian Hughes ( Longcourt Hotel) who recently received the Wedding Planner of the Year for the Munster Region at the Irish Hotel Awards  Night 2023 held in Sligo. The Longcourt Hotel also received an Excellence in Service Award to add to Marian’s award.

GAELIC GAMES: St Kieran’s  lost to Ballylanders  by 1-11 to 1-7  in the semi- final  of the County Junior B Football Championship played at Cappamore Gaelic Grounds on Saturday November 4. They trailed from the throw in and were down by 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time. The more experienced and physical  south team moved further ahead to book a place in the final. St Kieran’s were missing a few of their starting team which proved too big a handicap on the day. Well done to the players and management who had a successful year winning the West title. TEAM: Raymond Noonan, Cillian Heffernan, Ian Mackessy, Michael Murphy, Shane Fitzgerald 1-0, Daniel Geraghty, Patrick Ambrose, James O’Connor, Lorcan Murphy, Cathal Mc Enery, Jack Ben Hartnett, Fionn Gleeson, Darragh Mc Mahon, Brian Crowley 0-6,  Conor Woulfe 0-1. Subs Ray Cahill,  Darragh O’Connor, Jack Mulqueen, John O’Connor.

SOCCER NEWS: Creeves Celtic defeated Rathkeale 3-0 at home in the opening match of the Desmond Premier League on Sunday October 29. Eoin Mc Enery 2, and James O’Connor scored.  Kilcolman Rovers drew 2-2 at home to Askeaton/Kilcornan B in Division 3 and Carrig Celtic had no game.

OLD MILL LADIES: The Old Mill Ladies Football Club wish to thank all who helped out and supported their bucket collection in Newcastle West on Saturday November 28, at 8pm. All the money collected will go towards the upkeep and running of the club. 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.

SPLIT THE POT: Congratulations to Brian Nash  who won € 500, in the September, Creeves Celtic FC Split the Pot monthly draw held at the Thatch Newbridge on Friday November  3.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.

LOTTERY DRAW: The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery   draw took place on Monday October 30. The numbers drawn were 10,14,26,27, and  there was  no  winner of the € 15,200 Jackpot. Congratulations  to the five lucky dip winners who received  € 40 each: Deirdre Ambrose Ardagh, Pat King Carrigkerry, Mike Beasley Shanagolden, MK the Lad c/o Moore’s, May Gallagher Ardagh, Dan Ryan Ardagh. Next Monday night’s jackpot will  be € 15,300. 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 was added to the five lucky dips drawn each week to mark the 30th  anniversary of its formation. This week’s winner was Mike Magner Coolanoran. Both organizations wish to thank all the people for their continued support.

RADIO DRAW: Congratulations to John Dwane Newcastle West, who won € 225, in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday November 3.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.

NOVEMBER ROSARY: The Rosary is being recited on each Sunday of November in the three cemeteries in Newcastle West as follows: Famine Cemetery at 3pm, Calvary Cemetery 3.20pm, Churchtown Cemetery 3.40pm. The Rosary is being recited also in Reilig Mhuire, Askeaton at 3pm each Sunday.

REMEMBERANCE MASS: The dates and venues for this November Remembrance Masses are  St Mary’s Church Carrigkerry on Thursday November 9, at 7.30pm and St Molua’s Church Ardagh on Friday November 10 at 7.30pm. Those to be remembered in Carrigkerry are Patrick Flaherty, Maureen Neary,  Mary Moore, John (Jack) Barrett, Mary Mangan, Joan Aherne.  Those to be remembered in Ardagh are Pat Joe Flynn, Eileen Collins, Hannie O’Connor, Bernie Foley, Beatrice O’Connor,  Sean Collins,  Daniel Sheehan,  John (Jack ) Mc Kenna, John Barrett.  If anybody who died in the last 12 months is omitted from the list would their family, please contact the parish office to rectify the records. The Remembrance Mass in St Colman’s Church Kilcolman will be celebrated on Friday November 10,at 7.30pm.

CREEVES CELTIC: The club are holding a fundraising Bingo Night at Rathkeale House Hotel on Thursday November 9, at 8.30pm. The prize fund on the night will be € 2,000 and all support will be greatly appreciated.

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 € 5 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.

HISTORICAL TALKS: The  Rathkeale and District Historical Society talks for the autumn and winter season are held  in the Community Arts Centre (above the library) Rathkeale. On Friday November 10, at 8.30pm sharp, Róisín Ní Ghairbhí , Mary Immaculate College Limerick will give a talk titled ‘ The Irish Language in West Limerick’. Attendances at individual talks is free and membership for the year is € 10.

RAMBLING HOUSE: A rambling house will be held at Ballyhahill Hall on Wednesday November 15, at 8.00pm. All musicians, singers, storytellers, dancers and listeners  are welcome to attend. Ita’s Rambling House will be held at the Desmond Complex on Friday November 18, at 7.30pm. All musicians, singers, storytellers, dancers and listeners  are welcome to attend.

WIND FARM FUND: The Tournafulla, Rathcahill, Dromada, and Athea wind farms in West Limerick and Lenamore wind farm in North Kerry community funding is open for community projects at present. Applications are welcome from local community groups and not for profit organisations located within 20 kilometres of the wind farms, with priority given to groups within 5 kilometres. The closing date for applications is Friday November  17, 2023. For further information please  email [email protected]

SET CÉILÍ: A set Céilí will be held in Ardagh Parish Hall (V42F864)  on Sunday November 26,  from 3-6pm. Music by Donie Nolan Band, tea served, raffle/spot prizes and admission is € 10. The Céilí is in aid of St Kieran’s New Field Development Fund and is organised by the Fr Ted Oskar Team. The day will feature mainly sets, and a mix of social with waltz, Siege of Ennis, slosh, 2 hands etc. All support from the locality and outside areas will be greatly appreciated. A set céilí in aid of the Con Colbert Community Hall Athea will be held there on Saturday November 18 from 9pm and all support will be  welcome.

CEOL AN GHEIMHRIDH: The Resource Centre and  Gerald Griffin’s National School Loughill are the venues for this year’s Limerick Ceol an Gheimhridh Competition on Sunday November 26. The events are confined to Comhaltas members and include music, song, dance, recitation, storytelling etc.