The Abbeyfeale St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee will hold its first meeting in St Ita’s Hall on this Monday 1st March at 7m. People who are interested in helping out, or who have any new ideas on how to improve the parade, are welcome to attend. These meeting are short and informal, and any help would be very much appreciated.
The New York Parade begins at Franklin Avenue on 9th Street at 1pm. It marches up Fifth Avenue past St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 50th Street, up past the American Irish Historical Society at 83rd and the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 83rd Street to 86th Street, where the parade finishes around 4:30 – 5:00 pm The parade was first held in 1762 and they claim it is the oldest in the world.
Birmingham holds its parade on Sunday 14th March. Aside from Dublin and New York, it is the largest in the world and usually begins around midday. It starts at Camp Hill and goes all the way to the Bullring, before returning to Digbeth. Final details have yet to be announced
The Dublin Parade starts in the city centre at 12 noon and will be watched live by millions of people on TV and on the web.
Parades will also be held in Washington, Sydney, Brisbane, Montreal, Auckland, Glasgow, Europe, China, Japan, Dubai, and in thousands of other venues all over the planet.
The St Patrick’s Day Parade must be one of the most unique and best celebrated events in the world (apart from Christmas) and Abbeyfeale will proudly take its place among the nations of the earth and join in the festivities on March 17th. (Further details to be announced)
And those of you who will be attending parades in the numerous venues around the world might like to send us on a few pics with details of where you are, etc. and we will be delighted to publish them on our web site.
N21 ACTION GROUP; A public meeting for Abbeyfeale, Templeglantine and Tournafulla parishes will take place in The Devon Inn Hotel, Templeglantine on Sunday next, February 28 at 8pm sharp. All public representatives are requested to attend.
GREAT SOUTHERN TRAIL; The following were elected at the recent AGM of the Great Southern Trail: Cathaoirleach & P.R.O.; Liam O’Mahony, NCWest: Chairman GST Ltd.; Mike Mac An tSaoir, NCWest: Vice-Chair; Denis McAuliffe, Templeglantine: Secretary/Rúnaí; Mike Mac Domhnaill, Caisleán Nua Thiar: Treasurers; Pat Condon, NCWest & Máire Ní Chearmada, T’glantine: Works Officer; Tom McCoy, NCWest.
As there are seven Parishes traversed by the Trail between Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale. The AGM decided to elect a Local Co-ordinator for GST affairs in each Parish as follows: Abbeyfeale-Eileen Woulfe, Cratloe West; Templeglantine-Denis McAuliffe; Monagea-Morgan O’Shea, Ballyshane; NCWest-Mike Mac Domhnaill,Gortbuí; Ardagh-Tom Heffernan, Kilrodane; Coolcappa-Nora O’Grady, Ballykenry;Rathkeale -John Ruttle, Church St. The growing popularity of the GST throughout its length was much remarked upon at the meeting. This fact was illustrated by the visit of ninety Limerick City walkers to the Abbeyfeale-Barnagh section recently with consequent benefit to local enterprises.
TODDLERS;The Mothers and toddlers group meets each Tuesdays from 11am-12.30pm in St Ita’s Hall, Abbeyfeale. Fun for all with games, songs, tea and chat. All welcome. Contact Mary O’Connor at the CDP on 068 32444
WL102FM THIRD ANNUAL AWARDS NIGHT; There is a fine line up of great acts for West Limerick 102fm’s third annual awards night taking place at the Devon Inn on Monday, March 1 next. Acts like Paddy O’Brien., Louise Morrissey, Damien Bowe, Foster and Allen along with Mrs Allen who is a singer in her own right and Nathan Carter who sings the much requested ‘Face on the Cutting Room Floor’ and is travelling from his home in Liverpool. If you frequent the Afternoon Tea Dances in the Hazeltree then you’ll already be familiar with The Dreamers and of course our own Mike Condon will be performing a shortened version of his usual set. Bringing her own inimitable comedic style to the proceedings will be June Rodgers of Christmas Panto and Mooney Goes Wild fame. Travelling from her home in Newcastle, Co. Down is the lady with the glorious voice Caitlin Murtagh and from Portaferry, Co. Down we welcome multi instrumentalist and singer Stephen Smith. To complete the line up we have Eddie Lee and Catriona, Micheal Collins from Tournafulla and Cork natives Patrick O’ Sullivan and his drummer boy son. Special guests will be Jason Travers and Tony Stephens of The Rusty Roosters. With a line up like that doors will open at 7.30pm and the show will get underway at 8.30pm. So, get there early and dance the night away to the best sounds in the West. Admission only €15 and there will be a raffle and spot prizes on the night.
ABBEYFEALE ANGLERS; The new season will be opening in a fortnight’s time. Members can pay their fees for 2010 at Ryan’s or to any of the executive members of the club. The deadline for payment is Sunday, February 28, so make sure you are paid up on time. State licenses this year can be purchased at Thomas O Connell’s in New Street or at David Morrissey’s discount store on the Killarney Road.
ABBEYFEALE GOLFING SOCIETY; Our first outing of the new season, Captain Timmy Kelly’s Drive-In, is to the Killeen Course at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club on Saturday, February 27. Tee times are 10.40-12.10pm. To be included in the draw for tee-times text your name to 086-2234074 before 6pm Wednesday. .Membership for the year is €30 and can be paid to any of the committee members on or before this outing. New members to the society are welcome and can contact the number above for more information. Committee meeting in Jim Lanes, Abbeyfeale this Wednesday night at 9pm.
SOCCER; Abbeyfeale Utd A 1, Newcastle West 2. Abbeyfeale Ladies 2, Newcastle West 0.
RUGBY; Ireland face England at Twickenham on next Saturday 27th February at 4pm. Much interest will centre on Jonathan Sexton who has been selected in place of Ronan O’Gara.
GAA: Limerick senior footballers made it three wins from three starts with a 1-8 to 0-9 win over Longford at the weekend. Some controversy here, as the referee blew full-time with the ball still in play. (The temporary new rule states that the ball must be dead, as in rugby)..
Limerick hurlers, still fielding an under strength team due to their dispute with trainer, Justine McCarthy, put up a brave showing against Galway and led at half time before eventually going down by 7 points.