HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR: Sean Broderick is presented with the Bene Merenti Medal.. Toddy Mc Mahon, Butcher Convent St won 3 Gold Medals for his black and white puddings. Shelagh O’Connor , Kilmanahan was selected as the first woman recipient of the prestigious London Kerry Person of the Year award. Diarmuid Collins, a young engineer from Dromtrasna Hartnett, Abbeyfeale completed the gruelling 8 day Ras Tailteann. Tony and Peg Murphy sold Abbey Coaches to Fitzpatricks, Listowel and took early retirement. James Leahy Millstream, son of Jim and Catherine appointed the first Head Boy in Colaiste Ide agus Iosef. Maurice Kennelly, Knocknasna imported bales of hay from England last Spring. The relics of St. Anthony of Padua came to Limerick. Dan and Maureen Murphy were awarded a Year of the Gathering Award at the Fleadh na Mumhan awards in UL. Noelle Curtin was chosen as a Rosebud at the Rose of Tralee. The first summer camp with Jesus at its heart was held in the Boys N.S. in August. Abbeyfeale Expo attracts 2000 visitors and over 100 stands. Canon Mícheál Liston said goodbye to parishioners after 5 years in parish. The annual Abbeyfeale Races were rescheduled to August following the late spring when the fields were not cut as usual in June. ‘Times Gone By’ the book published by the Abbeyfeale and District Initative went on sale as did ‘Come and See- The Story of Lourdes’ by Canon Michael Liston and “One More For The Road” by Raymond Fennelly. West Limerick Resources receives support at community information evenings in Broadford, Foynes, Abbeyfeale, Rathkeale and Newcastle West. Nadine Smith is crowned Miss West Limerick 2013. A seminar on youth mental health entitled ‘Our Youth Matters’ took place at the Devon Inn. First ever jazz concert at the Glorach is a sell out. Local girl, Helena Quinn daughter of Tadgh and Kathleen Quinn, Purt travelled from her home in London to spend two months working with Fr. Tim Galvin on his mission in Sudan. The nineteenth annual Fleadh by the Feale took place over the May Bank Holiday with the Kilfenora Ceili Band headlining the celebrity concert. The Abbeyfeale Schools Reunion incorporating the four secondary schools in Abbeyfeale : St. Ita’s/Kellys, The Vocational School, St. Joseph’s/Convent and Miss Woulfe’s took place in Abbeyfeale on the week of July 14 -21. Local author Anneke Vierling was nominated for the Nillsson local heritage writing competition, Listowel Writers Week 2013 for her book"Abbeyfeale Park, a nature guide". : A Tidy Towns Committee, a St. Patrick’s Day Committee and a Gathering Committee were set up. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland started a monthly Saturday Social Club at the Dromhall Hotel, Muckross road, Killarney on the third Saturday of each month. ‘Feale the Pink’, a Parade of Pink from Fealefit in Mountmahon through the Main Streets of Abbeyfeale took place to raise funds for Cancer Research. All roads led to Abbeyfeale on the 1st weekend in November for the 5th annual Garry McMahon traditional singing weekend hosted by the West Limerick singing club. The first Abbeyfeale Arts Assembly takes place in October marking the 21st year reunion of the making of the ‘Back Home’. Joshua Ruddock, a son of Majella Tuohy formerly of St. Ita’s Terrace was one of the cast members of Micheal Flatley’s Lord of the Dance Show at the INEC. St. Ita’s Wrenboys collected €2,400 on their annual day out on St. Stephen’s Day with the monies going to Abbeyfeale for Africa and Fr. John Moloney. All Ireland nuns’ race took place during the Gathering. Plot for the Damned’ the latest offering from local author Lorcan Curtinaired at the Glorach. The first ever Fright Nite at the Town Park was a ‘roaring’ success. Abbeyfeale Anglers had two meetings with Junior Minister Fergus O Dowd in June and were happy with his promise that he would view the problems on the Feale in a sympathetic light. The official opening of the new extension to St. Mary’s Boys N.S. took place on Sunday, March 24. Bishop Brendan Leahy was installed as Bishop of Limerick. Railway Bar celebrates 40 years of dancing. Woulfe Murphy Solicitors won the best float prize in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade for the “Three Little Pigs” house. The official opening by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar T.D. of the Abbeyfeale/Kilmorna section of the Great Southern Trail took place. In an effort to attract shoppers to Abbeyfeale businesses began offering special incentives to shop with them on the first Friday of each month. West Limerick Connects – a free phone call service to the elderly is set up. Fetac Courses are available at the new Adult Education Centre ( Old Tech, Mountmahon). Pieta House set up campaign entitled ‘Mind our Men’.The girls basketball team of Colaiste Ide agus Iosef won the All Ireland Basketball Final. Kerry Bar shut 13 years and held a reunion of customers. The collection in aid of the Legion of Mary’s Emigrant Newsletter totalled €1323.00. Saturday, February 2 was the 50th Anniversary [day and date] of the last Limerick-Tralee daily scheduled passenger train and to mark this significant historic day the GST hosted a walk from Abbeyfeale to Duagh village. A new Macra club is set up in Limerick to serve the areas of Templeglantine, Abbeyfeale, Mountcollins, Ballagh, Tournafulla, Monagea and surrounds.


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