Kiltealy/ Ballindaggin
YEAR IN REVIEW
As we begin the New Year a short look back at some of the items covered in Kiltealy/Ballindaggin Notes in 2016.
Ballindaggin Storeyhouse had their first session of the New Year on a very cold night in January so there was a small attendance but as always was very enjoyable with 12 musicians keeping everyone foot tapping.
Kiltealy Voluntary Cardiac Response held a coffee morning in the Thatch early in New Year which raised €517. Kiltealy school collected brown coins for the month to mark the cessation of the 1 and two cent coins.
A grant of €1,000 was allocated to Ballindaggin Development Group for a memorial in honour of famous local man Comm. Séamus Rafter.
On Ash Wednesday early Feb. the annual Mass of anointing and healing was celebrated in Kiltealy Hall. Also in Feb. Kiltealy ICA guild celebrated their 40th anniversary with a dinner in Rivers Edge Restaurant, Bunclody.
At Feb. Storeyhouse South East Radio’s John Doyle played a tune on his grandfather’s hand saw which dates back to 1902.
February 12 saw the passing of Maryanne Byrne, Booladurragh and four days later Philip Bowe, Kiltealy on February 16.
A 1916 commemoration ceremony was held in Kiltealy Hall on March 15 when pupils on Kiltealy NS celebrated ‘ Proclamation Day’ and a book ‘The Life and Times of Séamus Rafter’ by his nephew Séamus Rafter was launched in the Riverside Park Hotel.
A very successful variety concert was held in Ballindaggin Hall on March 14 and 15 for St Colman’s School building fund.
Many people from a wide area joined the eight mile walk from Ballindaggin to Milehouse on Easter Monday for 1916 commemorations in Enniscorthy.
It was an amazing month for pupils of Elaine Jordan’s Speech and Drama School, 23 students took part in the Speech and Drama Teachers of Ireland Festival with seven winners coming home and five highly commended.
On the same weekend John Kehoe, Monbeg was a member of the victorious Republic of Ireland billiards team who competed in North/South challenge.
April was a sad month for some families as Maureen Nolan, Kilcullen died on April 15 and Nancy Carroll, Booladurragh on April 28. Marie Byrne, Cloroguemore and John Courtney, Enniscorthy were married in Kiltealy Church April 30.
An environmental conscious group were out on the roads around Ballindaggin for annual spring clean. A group of pupils from St Colman’s school were invited to Leinster Eco Den showcase of environmental youth action with their project ‘Save Every Drop be a water cop’.
The Duffry under-14 camogie team beat Naomh Na Mara and the under-12s took part in Caman to Leinster where they played teams from Dublin and Laois and won all three games. Eilish O’Neill, Ballindaggin and Adrian Power, Klrush were married in St Colman’s Church on April 22.
Sixteen pupils of Kiltealy NS received their First Holy Communion in Kiltealy Church in May.
At confirmation in Ballindaggin on June 3 37 pupils of Ballindaggin NS were confirmed and 26 pupils from Kiltealy received the sacrament.
Ballindaggin N.S.held their annual field evening on June15th which was a huge success. Several hundred people attended Ballindaggin annual Patron. Many were saddened to hear of the passing of Fergus Hemmingway, Ballinlug who died in June and also local native Edward Byrne, Cork and formerly Mohurry died in June.
Sinéad Byrne, Cloroguemore and Eoin Murphy, Rathnure were married in Kiltealy Church on June 17
The Martin Byrne Memorial Hurling Blitz was held at Duffry Rovers club grounds, Coolree June 25 where Ann and Vincent Byrne presented winners Cloughbawn with the cup and runners-up Rathnure with the shield.
Thirty four members of the Duffry Social Club had an enjoyable day out in Carlow and the girls of Duffry Rovers camogie under-12 defeated Oylegate, the intermediate team defeated Cloughbawn.. In July another native man Michael O’Neill, Blackrock and formerly Askinvillar died in Dublin.
Seán Cushen, Kiltealy was a member of the Irish under-16 sea angling team who won gold for Ireland in the Home Nations competitions in Norfolk.
On Saturday, July 23, Fionn Jordan, Cloroguebeg, Kiltealy became the County Wexford junior cycling champion in a combined race with the best senior riders in the county.
Alison Doyle, Kiltealy and Scott Yule. Edinborough were married in St Patrick’s Church, Kiltealy on July 23.
Duffry Social Club members had an enjoyable outing when they visited Tintern Abbey and Duncannon.
There was a full attendance of parishioners at the ‘Songs of Praise’ in St Colman’s Church, Templeshambo on July 31.
A large number of sheep farmers visited John Doyle’s Farm, Ballinacoola for Teagas better sheep management open day.
At the Ballindaggin Storeyhouse Jim and Kathleen Byrne and Bill and Carmel Redmond were congratulated on their golden wedding anniversaries.
Jim Hanrahan, Griffith Avenue celebrated his 70th birthday with a party at his home and his niece Mary Hanrahan, Mohurry celebrated her 50th.
There was a large attendance at Kiltealy annual patron and the field day was a huge success. Hazel Nugent, Kiltealy and Eamonn Gray were married in the Church of SS Patrick and Cecilia, Kiltealy on Friday, August 12.
Two well known local residents Jim Carroll, Enniscorthy and formerly Booladurragh died on August 9 and Mary O’Toole, Knockduff died on August 28.
St Colman’s school received funding from the Department of Education for two new classrooms. Twenty four children began school there in Sept. and 12 children began school in KIltealy in Sept. The annual horse canter in September organised by Ballindaggin Hall committee was a huge success; the committee thanked everyone who helped and supported the event.
The Baile Dubh Tire under-14 girls won the county final and the under-16s won the shield. Maureen Larkin and Brigid Delaney matched four in Duffry Rovers lotto and shared the jackpot of €8,000.
Duffry Rovers Intermediate A footballers got their chance to celebrate in October when they won the county final and the schoolboys also had success winning the Enniscorthy district Rackard League.
There was a meeting held in the hall to discuss plans for a community development in the village and Kiltealy Hall was crowded in early Oct. for the Wayside Players production of ‘Moll’ by JB Keane to raise funds for the proposed work.
Jockey Barry O’Neill, Monbeg won the last three races on the card at Fairwood in Oct., he also had a double win at Clonmel early Dec. bringing his seasonal total to 19 in the National point-topoint riders championship.
Nicola Jordan and Peter Nolan were married in Ballindaggin Church October 15
Large congregations attended a week long novena of Masses for deceased in KIltealy Church and during the same week everyone was saddened to learn of the Passing of Tom O’Leary, Griffith Avenue on November 15.
Almost two tonne of clothes was collected from Kiltealy school in Nov. for recycling. Kiltealy Voluntary Cardiac Response held a very successful Christmas fair in Kiltealy Hall which raised €1,627.06 and a successful Christmas Fayre was held in St Colman’s, Templeshambo on December December 3 began on a very sad note for a local family when Anne Maher (née Brooks) passed away on December 8.
Senior citizens in Kiltealy were entertained to a great party on December 4 and Ballindaggin seniors celebrated the season at their annual party on December 11.
A meeting was held in Ballindaggin Hall on December 20 to discuss and view plans for a proposed community development. Duffry Rovers GAA club completed work on their grounds in Coolree.
Ballindaggin Church was crowded for Christmas Eve Mass and again on Christmas morning when many children from the area had their toys blessed by celebrant Fr Jim Fegan PP who thanked everyone for their work and support in 2016.
Kiltealy Church was packed to capacity for Christmas Eve Mass which was celebrated by Rev. Fintan Morris CC with gospel reading by Rev Michael Byrne C.C. Holly and ivy wreaths with dozens of lighted candles set the scene. Over 25 choir members gave a rendition of Christmas carols. At the end of Mass Fr Morris and Santa prayed at the crib beneath the altar much to the delight of the many children present. Christmas morning a large congregation gathered again to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Fr Fintan Morris thanked all who contributed in any way to the celebration of Christmas in our Church and also thanked all who work in the parish during the year. Deepest sympathy is again extended to everyone who lost a loved one during 2016. May they all rest in peace.
Peace and happiness for 2017 to all our readers.