As the town braces itself for the Fleadh by the Feale festival this weekend, we can exclusively reveal that Abbeyfeale is being actively considered as a possible venue for the World Bone Playing Championships in 2007.

The event has, up to now, been held annually in the USA, and has attracted enormous crowds from all over the world. However, the governing body may move the event to Europe in 2007 and have been very impressed with the manner in which Abbeyfeale has hosted the All Ireland Bone Playing Championships during the past number of years.

A delegation is set to visit Abbeyfeale over the bank holiday weekend, and while here they will check out the local amenities and see for themselves whether the town is capable of holding such a huge event.

MUNSTER ADVANCE!

We had hoped to carry exclusive coverage of the Munster V Leinster Heineken Cup game at Lansdowne Road on Sunday. However, our chief sports writer has been kidnapped by the local rugby club and is at precent being held to ransom. (They can keep him – as we have no intention of paying!) To read his report on proceedings you will have to transfer to the Abbeyfeale RFC website. The link is at the bottom of our home page.

FLEADH

The annual Fleadh by the Feale Traditional Music Festival begins on this Thursday 27th April and continues until Monday 1st of May. A varied and interesting programme of events has been arranged for the busy bank holiday weekend and large crowds of music enthusiasts are expected to flock to the Fealeside town. The fleadh officially opens at the Winners Circle on Thursday 27th April with a "Gathering Session" of music, song and dance featuring the Planxty O’Rourke Group. The traditional celebrity concert at the convent hall on Saturday night 30th April is expected to be a sellout with the very popular group, Four Men & A Dog. The All Ireland Bone Playing Competition takes place on Monday 1st May and this event always attracts huge crowds to the open air platform in The Square. Throughout the weekend a series of workshops, busking competitions, ceilis, storytelling, etc will take place in various venues. There will be nightly entertainment in The Square as well as music sessions in all the public houses. For further information contact Maureen Murphy at 086-3265762 or Dearbhla Conlon at 087-6874035.

DANCE

There will be a dance in Dan Jo’s, (Jack Foley’s bar) Convent Street on this Friday April 28th with proceeds going to the Friends of St Ita’s. Music by The Nightingales.

MARKET

The Farmers Market continues each Friday morning in The Square from 9am to 1pm.

TODDLERS

The Tir na nOg Toddlers Group will resume on this Thursday 27th April at St Ita’s Hall from 10am to 12.30pm. All children under 5 years and accompanied by a parent or guardian are welcome.

AGM

An inaugural AGM of Limerick West Ogra Fianna Fail Comhairle Dail Ceantair will take place at Rathkeale House Hotel on Friday 28th April at 8.30pm. All interested young people between the ages of 16 and 26 are invited to attend.

GAA

County Football league Div 1. Fr. Caseys 2-12, Mungret 1-4;