Those of you who are in the habit of logging on for your weekly fix of Abbeyfeale On Line may have noticed that we were temporarily taken off the air this week.
Apparently, we have upset a quite a few people, including the Troika, the Government, the Boundary Commission, the GAA, Jedward, Russia and most of the county of Kerry.
An emergency meeting of Knocknaboul Community Council adopted a resolution to restore us to cyberspace pending a public enquiry. This was vetoed by the EEC Commission, the local ICA, Pairc na Feile and Angela Merkel, who all banded together and cut the current.
It is reported that attempts were even made to have our assets transferred to NAMA. However, this was deemed too dangerous given the current political climate, as it might force us into opening up our classified files and revealing a further treasure-throve of state secrets, back-handers, brown envelopes, illicit tax havens, lavish expense accounts and who is doing what – and with whom.
Knowledge, they say, is power. And we know big people too. A quiet word with a former MEP who lives not a thousand miles from Abbeyfeale saw the power surreptitiously switched on again this afternoon.
At the moment we are broadcasting under a clandestine veil of secrecy. We would ask visitors to log on as usual, but do it quietly so as not to attract attention. The less people who know about this site, the better. Let it be our little secret!
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*During a brief stint as PRO of the local rugby club we devised a scheme for attracting crowds to the club on a Saturday night. The idea was that we would run a dance but would not advertise it. Each of us would tell just one person about the dance, but would then swear them to secrecy.
It worked like a charm! Nobody could keep the secret. Everyone told someone, who told somebody else, and the news spread like wildfire. We had one of our busiest nights ever.
The motto would seem to be; “It does not always pay to advertise.”
SEPTIC TANK PROTEST
There was a big turnout at the Devon Inn on Monday night for the protest meeting organized by Citizens Against Charges. The group is organizing public resistance against various proposed charges being introduced by the government, including household tax and water and septic tank charges. It is also drawing attention to the gradual erosion of rural life with the closure of schools, post offices, garda stations, etc and the introduction of prohibitive charges for school buses, fire brigade call-outs, etc, and the lack of regular transport systems in country areas. Monday night’s meeting was addressed by Mattie McGrath TD as well as several local politicians and other interested parties. Further protest meeting are planned.
CONSECRATION
Father Michael Lenihan, formerly from Cragg, Abbeyfeale will be consecrated Bishop in Honduras on next Saturday 11th February. The ceremony takes place at 4pm Irish time and can be viewed on the internet by logging on to www.sanisidrolaceiba.com
Michael’s brothers, Joe and Anthony and his sister Julie will travel to Honduras for the occasion and we wish them well.
.GAA
John Riordan’s 56th minute goal proved the difference between Limerick and Leitrim in their Allianz National League clash at Carrick-on-Shannon which finished Leitrim 0-9, Limerick 1-9.
The first half was a mundane affair, at the end of which the sides were level on 0-3 apiece. But the game came to life in the opening three minutes of the restart when Limerick newcomer Eoghan O’Connor scored two points that could just as easily have been goals.
The home side replied with points from James Glancy (free) and Colm Clarke before Ian Ryan pointed for last year’s All-Ireland quarter-finalists. But with Stephen Lucey having a fine game at midfield for the visitors, they struck for the only goal nine minutes from the end.
Leitrim hit back with scores from Robbie Lowe, Glancy and substitute Darren Sweeney, but they left themselves with too much to do as the Treaty men took the spoils.
Limerick – B Scanlon; D Quaide, J McCarthy, L O’Dwyer; J Riordan (1-0), B Fitzpatrick, P Ranahan; S Buckley, S Lucey; D Treacy, E O’Connor (0-3), J Cooke; G Collins, J O’Meara, I Ryan (0-6).
Kerry played Dublin under lights in Croke Park on Saturday night and emerged winners by 1-14 to 0-11.
Fixtures; Saturday 11 February; Kerry v Armagh, Tralee, 7pm. Sunday 12 February. Limerick v London, Gaelic Grounds, 2.30pm
*The Limerick County Senior Football Championship draw took place last Wednesday night at the Woodlands Hotel, Adare. Fr. Caseys were drawn in group 2 with St. Kieran’s, Galbally, St. Patrick’s, Adare and Mountcollins
RUGBY
Four months after knocking us out of the World Cup, Wales have beaten Ireland in the opening match of the Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium
Full-back Leigh Halfpenny kicked a last minute penalty to win the match after Ireland wing-forward Stephen Ferris was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on the Welsh second-row Ian Evans.
Ireland had taken the lead through a Sexton penalty in the third minute but Wales showed power and determination throughout. Rhys Priestland displayed great handling skills as he found Jonathan Davies, who touched down in the corner for the first try.
Priestland missed the conversion and then struck the post with a penalty midway through the first half.
It was Ireland who went in at half time the happier. They cut through Wales with a simple 38th minute try scored by Rory Best. Sexton’s conversion gave the Irish a 10-5 lead at the break.
Sam Warburton went off with a dead leg and Ryan Jones took over the Wales captaincy for the second half. Sexton extended Ireland’s lead with his second successful penalty, but Wales fought back with 10 points in two minutes. The game swung back Ireland’s way when Tommy Bowe went over with less than a quarter of an hour remaining. However a late try from George North put Wales within a point of the Irish at 21-20. And then Leigh Halfpenny took the chance to kick for victory in the 80th minute.
Next Saturday Ireland face France in Paris. On last Sunday’s display, they would appear to have little chance of beating the French.
*Abbeyfeale are away to Dunmanway in the Munster Junior Plate on Sunday.
Abbeyfeale V Dunmanway plate away 2.30
SOCCER
Results; Abbeyfeale A (0) Broadford A (1) Abbeyfeale B (0) Broadford B (4)
Fixtures; Saturday 11th February. Munster Youths Cup Quarter Final. Abbeyfeale Youths Vs Bohemians (H) 2.00.  Sunday 12th February. Abbeyfeale A Vs Newcastle B (H) 2.00

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