The scramble for semi-final tickets has begun as mighty Munster swept aside the challenge of Gloucester on Saturday and set up a mouth-watering clash with Saracans in the Ricoh Arena in Coventry in just over two weeks time.

And, as he leads his charges towards a second Heineken Cup success in three years, Munster Coach, Declan Kidney, is now hot favourite to be appointed Ireland manager for the tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Toulouse are 5/4 favourites to lift the trophy with Munster at 11/8. Saracens are 7/1 and London Irish are 8/1. A Munster v Toulouse final is 4/5. Munster V London Irish is 3/1.

Local Credit Unions and banks are steeling themselves for an onslaught of fresh credit applications as rugby aficionados prepare for yet another invasion of the British mainland. Meanwhile, our relations in Birmingham are not answering the phone at present, for fear that they might have to offer lodgings to roaming hordes of unruly Fealesiders who could ate them out of house and home and drink Brum dry! (Coventry is just down the road)

No matter. We will just turn up at the door and create an almighty racket until we gain admittance. They have plenty of room so, if any of you out there are stuck for a bed for the night, we will be publishing the addresses and telephone numbers on our web site next week, and we will give you the precise directions on how to find your way from New Street Station and the Bull Ring.

Our cousins will be delighted - so they will!

More about Munster in the coming weeks, and if you have any messages of support you can post them on our Guest Book, or add a comment beneath this article.

BERTIE BOWS OUT!

If ever there was a case for abolishing the Tribunals, events over the past few weeks have shown why these futile and expensive exercises in legal mumbo jumbo are now superfluous to requirements.

We, the tax payers, are squandering millions of pounds on judges, barristers, lawyers, etc. and then we are handing down our own judgements without even hearing all of the evidence.

There used to be something in our Constitution about a man being presumed innocent until proven guilty. They have now apparently abolished this, but told no one.

It may very well be that Bertie Ahern could be found guilty of some transgressions, and the evidence against him is compelling. However, to pre-judge somebody and accuse him of perjury before all the facts are in, is surely wrong.

The Tribunal will continue on its slow and ponderous journey and will eventually return a verdict. Remember that great courtroom drama, “12 Angry Men.” and think of how it ended. Perhaps we should wait for the stitches.

And you will all have heard the current joke. What has past-Taoiseachs, Jack Lynch, Charlie Haughey and Bertie Ahern all got in common?

Answer; Jack sang “The Banks”. Charlie robbed the banks. Bertie didn’t know about the banks!

Incidentally, Bertie is quoted at 4/1 favourite to be the next Irish President - so at least Paddy Power presumes him to be innocent. Good man, Paddy!

TURF;

As annual turf-cutting operations commence in the locality, Junior Environment Minister, Tony Killeen, has informed us that County Limerick is excluded from the turf-cutting ban on selected bogs which is due to come into effect next year. This is in response to our recent invitation to the EU Minister to accompany us to the bog.

It appears that we now have gained their attention out there in Europe!

FLEADH

It is only three weeks until Fleadh by the Feale commences on 1^st May. Many traditional enthusiasts will visit the town to enjoy the sessions and various events being held during the fleadh. For those that like the outdoors, there will be plenty of entertainment to cater for them, starting on Friday 2^nd May with the Traditional Busking Competitions. Saturday night 3^rd May traditional entertainment on the open-air platform will feature Templeglantine Comhaltas Group and Maids of Erin. On Sunday afternoon 4^th May the outdoor platform will stage the Junior Bone Playing Competition and traditional entertainment. Bringing the festival to an end on Monday 5^th May at 7.30pm, Scoil Mhathair De and Tournafulla Comhaltas Group will perform on the open-air stage, followed by the All Ireland Senior Bone Playing Competition. Moving indoors, another popular event on the programme is the Storytelling with Daisy Kearney and Friends on Sunday afternoon at 3pm in the Convent secondary School. Also at 3pm the launch of the CD/DVD “Best Of The West” will take place in the GAA Club. This is a recording of the WL102 concert held in the Convent Hall in November last year. Don’t forget the “Sharon Shannon Concert” on Sunday 4^th May in the Convent Hall at 8pm. Make sure to get your ticket in time from Maureen 086-3265762, Dearbhla 087-6874035, Celine 087-7697672, John 086-3165848, Abbey Stone & Tile Centre and Slice of Life, Main Street.

AGM;

The AGM of Abbeyfeale Search and Rescue takes place on this Wednesday evening 9^th April at 9pm at their headquarters in the Killarney Road. All are welcome.

ART;

An exhibition of drawings by local school children and children from Estonia is presently on display at Abbeyfeale Library.

WAR STORIES;

Tadgh Quinn from Purt, Abbeyfeale featured on the War Stories programme on RTE last Friday evening. Tadgh served with the United Nations Forces in The Congo in the sixties.

GAA;

Fr Casey’s were beaten 2-7 to 0-6 by Newcastlewest in the West Limerick U/21 football final at Athea on Saturday.

Limerick hurlers lost to Tipperary in the league qaurter-final by 0-13 to 0-8. And the footballers went down by 3-05 to 2-07 against Longford.