The Celtic Tiger may have roared its last, but the Yankie Tiger has returned and looks hungrier and meaner than ever!

Tiger Woods won his sixth Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on Sunday as he prepares for the Masters at Augusta on Thursday week. He is now a miserly 7/4 with Paddy Power to win the first major of the season.

Padraig Harrington is also showing a bit of form and was in contention at Bay Hill until bogeying the last two holes. He is 14/1 and may prove better value than Woods.

*Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods were playing the 16th hole, when Tiger’s tee-shot landed behind a huge, one hundred foot high fir tree. Tiger looks at Arnie and says, “How would you play this one? Lay up and take the extra stroke?”

Arnold replies: “When I was your age, I’d just play right over this tree.”

Tiger, not wanting to be shown up by Old Arnie, proceeds to hit the ball high, but not high enough. It bounces off the tree and lands out of bounds.

Tiger, really annoyed at this point, asks Arnold how he ever managed to hit a ball over that tree.
Arnold replied: “Well, when I was your age, that tree was only three feet tall.”

FLEADH

Fleadh by the Feale introduced sean nós dancing as a new workshop last year. Those who enrolled for the classes found it to be a very enjoyable event and many enquiries have been received requesting for it to be included in this year’s programme. The committee have again invited back champion dancer Edwina Guckian to tutor at the sean nós dancing workshop. This workshop and all other workshops are open open to all age groups and will be held on Saturday 2^nd May in the Convent National School. They will include accordion, fiddle, flute, banjo, concertina and singing. Music workshops are not suitable for beginners. Tickets for the “Four Men and a Dog” concert on Sunday 3^rd May are now on sale.

CARDS;

Results of Meenkilly Card Game. Two teams divided first and second place. They were Liz Stack, Dan Brosnan and Toddy O’Connor; Kathleen McCarthy, Bridie Collins and Danny O’Connell. The door prize was won by Con O’Callaghan. Table prizes went to Kathleen McCarthy, Bridie Collins, Danny O’Connell. Raffle prizes were won by James Curtin, Andy Keane, Billy Broderick, Anita Danaher, Mossie Gleeson, Sean Harnett, Jerry O’Riordan, Necia Lane and Pat Curtin.

DRAMA;

The Glórach Players will be staging two one-act plays, One Way Ticket by John B. Keane and directed by a seasoned pro, Athea native Donal Woulfe, whilst Glórach stalwart Martin Tobin directs the David Tristram play The Fat Lady Sings in Little Grimley. The performances will take place at the Glórach Theatre, Abbeyfeale on Wednesday April 1st, Thursday 2nd and Sunday 5th. Tickets can be booked at 0871383940.
GAA;

Fr Casey’s U/21 were beaten 1-15 to 2-07 by Newcastlewest in the West Final on Saturday. The Intermediated defeated Castlemahon 2-09 to 0-05.

Limerick senior footballers eased their relegation worries slightly with a 0-10 to 0-7 win away to Longford. Limerick hurlers were narrowly beaten 1-20 to 2-16 by Clare. St Joseph’s Secondary School, Abbeyfeale won an All Ireland Ladies football colleges title. (more next week)

RUGBY;

Abbeyfeale RFC would like to thank all who supported the table quiz in aid of under-age teams at Jack O’Rourke’s bar last Friday night.

SOCCER;

The Republic of Ireland failed to emulate the heroics of the rugby team at the weekend, drawing 1-1 with Bulgaria at Croke Park.

Despite the tonic of a goal after just thirty seconds, the Irish were woefull and were probably releived to secure a point in the end.

They now face Italy away tomorrow night, and fans are already fearing the worst. Italy are 4/9, and Ireland 15/2. A drew here would be priceless (3/1) and we will keep our fingers crossed.

Abbeyfeale Utd B drew 3-3 with Glantine in the cup on Sunday after extra time and went on to win 4-1 on penalties.

GOLF;

Results from Abbeyfeale Golf Society outing to Shannon Golf Club on 21.03.2009 1st: Jim Kelly (37pts.) 2nd: Peter English (36pts.) 3rd: Paddy Fitzgerald (35pts.) Next outing is to Adare Manor Golf Club on 18.04.2009

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The first snows of winter fell in Abbeyfeale on Saturday night, (see MSN Gallery) and Massgoers were treated to a winter wonderland of white as they journeyed into town from the surrounding areas. The snow gave the town a Christmas feel, and the street lights and the carols broadcast over the PA system added to [...]

America goes to the polls today to elect a new president. Here in Ireland, we watched with envy four years ago, as the electorate over there went into their ultra-modern, state of the art polling booths and operated computerised screens to vote for their man. Here at home we were still living in the dark [...]

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