Mike McGrath’s

IN Charleville, 2017 started on a positive note for the town in with the announcement that Charleville Heritage Society was to twin with their counterpart in the village of Croesgoch, adjacent to Fishguard in Pembrokeshire in Wales, following a visit of the society’s P. J. McCarthy, Michael Donegan and Michael McGrath.

The trio were guests of the Croesgoch Society and agreement was reached between the two that the societies would cement their twinning arrangement later on in the year.

A delegation from the University College Cork (UCC) that included the Paraguayan Vice-Minister for Education, Jose Arce Farina, and the Head of the National Council for Science and Technology visited Charleville, the birthplace in 1833 of the Paraguayan national heroine Eliza Lynch. They announced that the inaugural Eliza Lynch lecture hosted by UCC would take place in Charleville.

Local Musician Dermot Lyons contested the TG4 Glór Tire country talent show with country star Louise Morrissey as his mentor. Charleville Chamber make a submission to Cork County Council’s Local Area Plan.

Jerry Murray, Imelda O’Hanlon and Marie Browne assumed the positions Club Captain, Lady Captain and President of Charleville Golf Club. Singing and TV star Bressie gave a talk on Mental Health and Wellbeing at the Charleville Park Hotel.

The inaugural Eliza Lynch lecture takes place at Charleville Library where it was also announced that a post graduate scholarship in Women’s Studies is also to be established at UCC to include areas of women’s history, writing and art. The death of Professor Ronan Fanning (RIP) keenly felt in Charleville especially by members of Charleville Heritage Society, of which he was a special friend, in relation to his writings on Eliza Lynch of Paraguay.

FEBRUARY JANUARY

saw the appointment of Una Griffin and Tracey Groome as Principal and Vice-Principal of the historic Charleville C.B.S. Secondary School to become the first all- female management team since the school was founded in 1866. Charleville GAA Club gets a new set of officers led by Mike Keane as the new chairman.

An official dispute shuts down Kerry Ingredients as workers picket the plant at Charleville’s Kilmallock Road. Newtown Camogie Club players celebrate their Cork County Junior ‘A’ win, while their male counterparts celebrated winning the North Cork Junior ‘C’ Hurling Championship.

The former Mannix College is rejuvenated as a centre for further education under its new name Charleville Education Training Centre, after the ETB axes Archbishop Mannix from the college. Charleville Chamber highlights the challenges of Brexit for the local industries of food and stainless steel products at their annual general meeting.

A team from the CBS Transition Year Class enter their project ‘Ditch Your Carbon Print’ in the Young Social Innovators Programme 2017. Charleville Vintage Club hold their first Sunday run for Dromcollogher Respite Centre.

News of a potential merger of Credit Union branches in Charleville and Clonmel breaks in the Irish Independent. Craobh An Rath Comhaltas hold a traditional music night at the Corbett Court, Ballyhea.

saw the Shoestring Theatre Company director Kevin O’Shea officially open the Kerry Drama Festival in Castleisland. The line-up for the 65th annual North Cork Drama Festival in Charleville’s Community Hall is announced.

Grandparents turn out in force for the annual Grandparent’s Day at St. Joseph’s Primary School ... and Dermot Lyons is a big hit on TG4’s Glór Tire. The St. Mary’s Secondary School TY drama team win the ty Schools Drama Competition in Mullingar with their play ‘ No Smoke Without Fire’ written by Charleville playwright Katie Holly.

It was revealed in the 150th anniversary of the Fenian Uprising that the man who led the attack on Kilmallock police barracks on March 8, 1867 was Charleville man Captain Sean Dunne. This is recounted in his book ‘ The Story of Kilmallock’ by Mainchin Seoighe.

St. Joseph’s Foundation announce their Spring Fair for April 9 ... a party of Bretons for Charleville’s twin towns of Plouaret and Le Vieux Marche to visit the town to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the twinning arrangement.

The committee of Dromina 1916 Commemoration Committee honoured in the village, as indeed was the Charleville Committee with the presentation of certificates by Cork County Council. St. Patrick’s Day celebrated in style in Charleville, with the annual parade led off by Olympian Noelle Linehan and her twin sister Eimear ... Students at CBS Secondary School celebrate National Flag Day.

Meanwhile, students from St. Mary’s TY Class won the final of the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Cork North & West joined their the CBS Students to emerge successfully in the regional final. The girls won the award for the best overall company for ‘ Grass Girls’ and ‘Your Shield Your Way, ’ while the boys won with their ‘Fantasy Hurling’ stand.

It was announced that Charleville Heritage Society are to honour the memory of local historian Ted O’Riordan, the man mostly responsible for the establishment of Charleville Library and other local projects. Cllr Ian Doyle reports that Cork County Council has allocated €135,000 to communities in Charleville, Newtownshandrum and Ballyhea.

MARCH

In C103 presenter Patricia Messenger officially opens St. Joseph’s Foundation Spring Fair. Vincent’s Shop appoints Anne Greensmith as the new manager of their shop in Keating’s Lane, Charleville. CBS students collect €550 for the Fight for Fionn Fund with a flag day in the town.

Fermoy Municipal District launch their streetscape painting, signage and improvement scheme in Charleville. The St. Mary’s ‘Grass Girls’ mini-company to contest the national final of the Student Enterprise Awards in Croke Park on May 3 with their cattle tagging product.

Charleville Chamber offer a Ford Mondeo car for a hole-in-one at their fund raising Golf Classic at Charleville Golf Club. Merger talks with Clonmel Credit Union and Charleville Credit Union break down due to the intervention of the Central Bank and creates much unrest among the local membership.

APRIL

Charleville Soccer Club announce that they are to rename their grounds at Moatville as the Tin Fitzgerald Park in memory of club stalwart Tin Fitzgerald. They also announce that Adam Castle is to continue as the manager of the club’s first team for the coming season.

The Cork North Division of An Garda Síochána host the 2017 International Police Association (IPA) at the Charleville Park Hotel. Local harpist Rachel O’Connor from Ballyhea, Charleville wins the under 18 Harp Competition at Cork County Fleadh Cheoil.

In a portrait of the late Ted O’Riordan is unveiled at Charleville Library by his daughter Elizabeth Keane, in a ceremony hosted by Charleville Heritage Society. This is followed by

MAY

the inaugural Ted O’Riordan Memorial Lecture.

The Pro Musica School of Music move into their new premises at the town’s former Pavilion Cinema in Clanchy Terrace. CBS TY students win the Young Social Innovators ( YSI) 2017 ‘Make Our World Greener Challenge’ to qualify for the national final of the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Award, with the Ditch Your Carbon Cup Print product.

The OCF Project and Commercial Services Company open new headquarters in Charleville Town Centre.

Charleville Vintage Club hold a tractor run for Rathfredagh Chrshire Home, Newcastlewest.

St. Mary’s Secondary School students assemble for their annual prize day. Local man Ted Touhy wins car in