by Tom Aherne
RISING STAR: Congratulations to Sophie Hennessy Carrigkerry and Old Mill ladies football club who has been named as goalkeeper on the Ladies HEC Rising Stars Team 2024.The awards are to recognise the contribution of players who participate in the Lagan, Donaghy and Moynihan Cups in the Higher Education College Competitions. Sophie lined out for Mary Immaculate College Limerick.
EASTER CEREMONIES: The Holy Week Ceremonies for Ardagh/ Carrigkerry parish are, Holy Thursday March 28, mass in Ardagh at 7.30pm, Eucharistic Ministers are invited to renew their commitment. A meeting with all the Eucharistic Ministers and Readers of the Word will be held afterwards. Good Friday, Passion of the Lord in Carrigkerry at 3pm, Stations of the Cross in Carrigkerry at 6.30pm and in Ardagh at 7.30pm. Saturday March 30, Easter Vigil in Ardagh at 9pm. Easter Sunday of the Lords Resurrection in Carrigkerry ay 11am. Parishioners are asked to hand in their Trocaire contributions at the Easter week ceremonies.
The Holy Week Ceremonies for Coolcappa/Kilcolman parish are Holy Thursday Kilcolman mass at 7.30pm, followed by Adoration for one hour. Good Friday Passion at Kilcolman at 4pm, Stations of the Cross at Coolcappa at 7.30pm. Saturday March 30, Easter Vigil in Coolcappa at 8pm. Easter Sunday mass in Kilcolman at 11am.
KILCOLMAN SCHOOL WALK: Kilcolman N.S., is organising an I Donate fundraising event to help raise essential funding for the school on Good Friday March 29 along the Ardagh Greenway. Walkers can select their own time and the recommended donations are € 5 per person and € 15 per family. All are welcome to participate.
SPONSORED WALK: David Egan formerly of Carrigkerry now residing in Holland has been doing an annual walk for charity for a number of years. He walks the equivalent distance ( 1,032km) from his home in Holland to his former home in Carrigkerry. This year he has kindly decided to do this fundraiser for the new Sensory Garden in Carrigkerry. On March 22 David had 350 km walked and € 820 raised. David is coming home for Easter, so the committee have decided to welcome him home as well as to help him clock up a few more Kilometres in his quest to achieve his target. The walk will be held on Easter Monday April 1 starting at 2pm, from Carrigkerry Community Centre. The walk will take in the scenic ring of Glensharrold townland passing Scotland Bog and by the Flag Floor entrance passage and returning to the Community Centre for refreshments. All ladies, gentlemen and children are welcome to participate in the walk and to support David and to thank him for his great support of local fundraisers in recent years.
GAELIC GAMES: Well, done to St Kieran’s players and coaches in winning the Ita Madigan cup hurling tournament. Congratulations also to Drom/Broadford on winning the shield on March 3. Well, done to Michael Long who was a member of the Limerick u20 football panel who drew with Tipperary on Friday March 15, in Round 1 of the Munster Championship. Congratulations to Chloe O Connor who has been selected on the U14 Limerick County Camogie panel for 2024. Following 5 weeks of trials and a starting panel of 180 players Chloe successfully made into the selected 45 panel for 2024. South Limerick defeated West Limerick by 2-5 to 2-4 in the Mackey Cup final held at Neville Park Rathkeale on March 13. Calum Madigan Kilcolman national school was a member of the west panel. South Limerick defeated West Limerick by 1-2 to 0-3 in the Neville Cup final held at Neville Park Rathkeale. Ella Hough Coolcappa national school and Maeve Madigan Kilcolman national school were part of the west panel.
St Kieran’s camogie girls represented the club in the Rathkeale St Patrick’s Day Parade. Over 40 girls joined together to celebrate the occasion. Well, done to all our girls and thanks to the parents for bringing them along. The Con and Anne Kirby Memorial Greyhound stakes commenced at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday March 23. All the Limerick GAA clubs were allocated a greyhound to represent them in the major competition for greyhounds in Limerick. Old Mill Ladies club were represented by Kyletaun Coco in heat 3 and St Kieran’s by Feshtys Mo in heat 7. St Kieran’s defeated Ballysteen by 1-7 to 1-4 in round 2 of the West Senior Football League at Coolcappa on Saturday March 23.
GAELIC GAMES MEMBERSHIP: St Kieran’s GAA Club membership rates for 2024 are, Limerick Development Draw only € 100. Adult social non-playing member € 40, and plus Limerick draw € 130. Senior adult player including Astro turf levy € 100 and plus Limerick draw € 190. Family membership ( includes one parent/guardian and all children under 18) € 120 plus Limerick Draw € 200. Under 21 and Student membership ( over 18, including Astroturf levy) € 80. Single Juvenile Membership (GAA and Camogie player € 50. The deadline for membership is Sunday March 31.
LOTTERY DRAW: The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery draw took place on Monday March 18.The numbers drawn were 9,13,24,28,and there was no winner of the € 17,000 Jackpot. Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who received € 40 each, Marie O’Connor Commons Ardagh, Micheál Ambrose Dunganville, Mike and Peg O’Connor Glenastar Ardagh, Archie Madigan Ardagh, Róisín Ambrose Ardagh. Next week’s Jackpot will be € 17,100. 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. Both organisations wish to thank all the people for their continued support.
RADIO DRAW: Congratulations to Noreen Collins, Newcastle West who won € 270 in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday March 22.The tickets cost € 2, or 3 for € 5 and they are available from volunteers, in local shops, (including Moloneys Carrigkerry, and 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.
JOE AHERN WALK: Joe Ahern Glenagore Athea has been walking 100 miles during the month of March to raise funds for the Irish Heart Foundation Mater Hospital Dublin. People wishing to donate to the charity walk are asked to contact Joe on 086-8155614.
CLEAN UP: Team Limerick Clean-Up (TLC)is set to take place across Limerick city and county on Good Friday March 29. The registration is open for the 9th edition of the largest one day clean up in Ireland. All groups or individuals are urged to sign up on www. teamlimerickcleanup.ie and help make this year the best ever. The countryside is full of discarded rubbish and a disgrace for visitors or tourists to see.
CLUB DRAW: The Limerick GAA Club draw for 2024 is now open for membership. The Saint Kieran’s club are promoting it, and the first draw will be held on Saturday March 30. The entry fee for the ten draws is € 100, and € 21,000 will be given out in prize money each month. The first prize is € 10,000, 2nd prize € 3,000, 3rd prize € 2,000, 4th prize € 1,000, 5th prize is an exclusive star prize, and 4 prizes of € 500, four prizes € 250, and 17 prizes of € 100. To join contact the local St Kieran’s club members in person, or online through the Club force App with direct options available. The club will receive 50% of all membership received which is vital for the running of it over the year.
MEMORIAL FUNDRAISER: Clounleharde Memorial Committee are holding a fundraising night of music with Athea CCE in Knockdown Arms V94FFV5, on Easter Sunday night March 31, commencing at 9.30pm. The tickets cost € 5 and are available from committee members and at the usual outlets. The first prize is € 300, second prize € 150, third prize € 50. Plenty of spot prizes on the night and all support will be greatly appreciated.
COFFEE MORNING: A Coffee Morning in aid of St Molua’s Parents Council will be held in Ardagh Community Centre on Monday April 1, from 11am to 2pm. All support will be greatly appreciated on the day.
ARDAGH BINGO: A fundraising bingo evening in aid of Ardagh Community Centre, will be held in the parish hall on Wednesday April 3, at 8pm sharp. The prize fund is € 2,000, and a raffle will be held with lots of prizes on offer. The organisers would be delighted to accept spot prizes for the raffle.
GLENVILLE HOUSE: The following are the Glenville House and Gardens Ardagh opening hours for 2024: Wednesday April 3, to Wednesday June 12, and Heritage Week Saturday August 17 to Sunday August 25, inclusive, Tuesday to Saturday from 9-30am to 1-30pm. Admission € 5, Students €3, children and old age pensioners are free. The house is located a mile from Ardagh on the Kilcolman road and is well worth a visit.
OLD RECTORY: The Old Rectory Ballywilliam Rathkeale is open to the public from May 1 to November 30. The opening hours are on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm. It will be open also during Heritage Week from Saturday August 17 to Sunday August 25. The admission is € 8 and additional information by calling 087-8269123