Killavullen
DARKNESS INTO LIGHT 2020.
Last Saturday morning people of all ages, from all over the parish got up early to watch the sunrise in aid of Pieta House.
The organisation helps people by offering free therapy to those who are engaging in self-harm, with suicidal ideation or those bereaved by suicide. Pieta House traditionally held a 5km walk in local towns all over Ireland which then spread across Europe and indeed the World to unite Irish people in this cause and raised much needed funds to help those in crisis.
As the walk could not go ahead as usual this year Pieta House encouraged people to watch the sunrise and make a donation. The morning brought a low lying fog but it did not deter people from getting up and watching the light break through the darkness. On higher ground a beautiful sunrise was excitedly watched by those gathered.
The sun timidly peeked out through the clouds and then rose bright and high over the blanket of fog which enveloped the parish proving that sometimes in life it is hard to see through the fog, but beyond the fog lies clarity. Pieta House Cork can be contacted at 021 4395333.
KILLAVULLEN FACE LIFT
A group of well-intentioned locals began a project a few weeks back to tidy up the old Railway Bridge on the New Line Road, Killavullen. They removed the overgrowth to reveal the original stonework of the bridge. They cleaned up the scrub growth around the bridge uprights and then took on the task of powerthe stone to return the bridge to its original beauty arching elegantly over the road as you enter and leave Killavullen.
From the Railway Bridge the convoy turned to clearing up the Blackwater Bridge, one of 27 along the meandering river. The weeds and ivy were taken away along the bridge and the pathways. Gathering up their tools, their Community Spirit not waning the crew turned their attention to the paths around Killavullen Church, and then headed up the winding Cork Road to the Brown Bridge. Cleaning the Brown Bridge revealed some intricate detail which in recent years was hidden to the eye. The work was carried out with pleasure and delight.
The praise from all passing by is being spread and the community at large are speaking about the way it enhances the approach roads to picturesque village. Go raibh mile maith agaibh: Tom Dorgan, Donie Mellerick, Tom Barry, Kennedy Roche, Paddy Looney, Nicky Roche, Barry Murphy, Rosemaria Dorgan and Anna Barry for your time and energy. It has boosted the spirit of us all as we stay within our 5km range.
DUMPING
While the above people were using their time and energy to boost the beauty of our locality others have been out in force undoing it. The roadway to some households in Killavullen has been littered with many loads of mixed garden waste, leaves, timber, building blocks, plastic, grass trimmings, brambles and briars dumped in unsightly piles on more than one occasion. The residents along this road must now go and tidy up the mess left behind. Bags of fire ashes are dumped in bags along other roadways, not to mention bags of household waste. Residents are monitoring their areas and the advice to dumpers is to be careful. There are signs around letting you know that there are cameras in operation and they are being checked.
Leaving or throwing litter in a public place is an offence which can result in the on the spot fine of €150 or a maximum of €3,000 if you are convicted in the District Court. It might be financially worth disposing of your waste correctly rather than pay the fine. Stop expecting the good nature of residents who live where you dump, and those who use the walkways for exercise to pick up after you. If the waste was going to look unsightly at the end of the garden, dumping it on the way to the homes of other people is not kind or fair. Leave nothing but your footprints as you leave our area.
COVID-19 VOLUNTEER GROUPS
In Killavullen two groups have been set up in response to cocooning and self-isolation requests by the government. One group is a telephone group. A group of willing volunteers have offered to ring locals as they isolate and cocoon. They will be a friendly voice in the day to break up the monotony and the loneliness than can sometimes occur. This group will also ask if anything is needed or required, shopping, prescriptions, milk, newspapers, stamps etc. They will then pass this information onto the second group.
The second group is a WILLING HANDS GROUP This group is one which is made up of people will get what is needed and are willing to deliver the items to those cocooning or isolating.
If you are cocooning or isolating and this service would be of benefit to you please contact Gillian Forde at 086 3845655 to be included and tell your friends. If you have a relative or neighbour who you think would benefit please let them know.
To make this service work we need to have contact numbers from those cocooning or isolating.
An Garda Síochána in our districts of Fermoy and Mallow have dedicated Gardaí whose priority will be looking after the needs of those who are most vulnerable. If you or someone you know is vulnerable due to their age, health or ability please contact the Gardaí and they will assist in any way they can. It may be to deliver a prescription or something requiring attention in your home, they will not be able to assist with giving drives to people.
Fermoy Garda Station 025 82100; Mitchelstown 025 84833; Mallow 022 31450.
KILLAVULLEN GAA
The GAA grounds will also be closed to everybody till further notice. The gym will also be closed at this time.
Go raibh maith agaibh go leir: Every day we are proud of all those in our families and neighbourhoods who go to work to work in frontline and essential services. A sincere thank you to all doing their best each day to ensure we all get through this crisis safely. We are grateful for what you do, inspired by your bravery and courage as well as being very proud of you all.
Those of us who are asked to stay at home within our 2km range should just do that to ensure you all return to a more regular and less stressful way of living, sooner rather than later.
We may not be there yet, but we’re one day closer to the end of isolation and cocooning than we were yesterday. When this is all over and life resumes consider supporting all the various businesses and trades that you have asked for support over the years for fundraisers and events. It would be a great way to support them as they restart and rebuild.
There are two very informative websites now active in our parish and worth checking out on a regular basis: killavullenparish.ie/ killavullengaa.com/
It is also worth keeping an eye on the Parish Facebook page, the newly formed group Look after the Elderly in Killavullen and the Killavullen GAA Facebook.
THE DICK BARRETT SHIELD/ AVONDHU’S FIRST WIN – Stephen Rea was a stalwart of Killavullen Club, who gave fantastic service to the club for many, many years and was also instrumental in setting up of the Juvenile Board of the Avondhu Division in 1953.
Stephen was especially involved in the formation and organising of the Dick Barrett Shield tournament competition.
The Dick Barrett shield was first played for in 1958 and it was at that time an under-15 competition. In 1960 it was raised to 16 and remained so till 1991. In 1992 it was again an under-15 tournament.
Avondhu first won the shield in 1967. They completed their only three in a row, in 1969,1970 and 1971. The same club supplied the three winning Captains. Avondhu also won the Dick Barrett Shield in 1989 after a lapse of 10 years. They lost four finals in a row, 1985,1986,1987 and 1988, and two of these finals were lost by a single point.
Avondhu defeated St Finbarr’s on Sunday, October 22, 1967, after years of endeavour since 1958 when the competition was established at county level. All the disappointment of that period vanished into thin air, at the Clonmult Memorial Park, Midleton on that fateful Sunday when Avondhu won out by 4-07 to 1-01.
The splendid county board trophy, donated by the old IRA to perpetuate the memory of an executed patriot was then, one of the only one of the many competitive honours to elude Avondhu’s grasp. When the game was over, there were scenes of great celebration in the North Cork team’s dressing room, and it was visited by the divisional board junior board chairman, Derry Gowen.
Avondhu won the toss and the captain Eddie Flynn (Castletownroche)
elected to play with a slight breeze. Conditions underfoot were soft. The opening quarter was dourly contested, but Avondhu hope rose when Eddie Flynn was at hand in a goalmouth melee to net his team’s first goal.
Following that tonic score, the divisional side held the upper hand and completely blunted many Barr’s raids. The major obstacle to the city boys was centre back Vincent Foley (Doneraile) who put in a very courageous and intelligent performance in the first half.
The midfield partnership of O’Mahony and Greehy really hit it off and steady service was sent streaming into the Barr’s territory. Some good service was wasted but just when it seemed that the Avondhu attack was going to throw away match winning chances, Tom Sheehan lobbed two balls into the opposition nets. For good measure, he and O’Flynn sent over two points before the interval. At that stage, the divisional boys lead by 3-02 to 0-01.
The opening 10 minutes of the second half saw some rejigging of positions but the Avondhu defence came under heavy fire, but each member rose to the challenge. Hogan and Healy on the half back line flanks whipped away danger in confident style. Behind them, the full backs Jim O’Brien, Henry Greensmith (Rathluirc) and Dano Moloney (Fermoy) covered and tackled so tenaciously that goalkeeper Davy Relihan (Castletownroche) got very little to do.
Having weathered the Barr’s storm, the Avondhu half forwards proceeded to find their best form and 10 minutes from time, the shield was as good as on its way to the Division.
The Avondhu line out was: Davy Relihan – Castletownroche; George Quinlan – Glanworth; Henry Greensmith – Charleville; Danno Moloney – Fermoy; Pat Healy – Mallow; Vincent Foley – Doneraile; David Hogan – Kilworth; Maurice O’Mahony – Buttevant; Seán Greehy – Kilworth; Eddie O’Connor – Kildorrery; Tommy Sheahan – Mallow; Mick Copps – Liscarroll; Willie Cremin – Mallow; Jim O’Brien – Glanworth; Eddie Flynn – Castletownroche. Substitutes: Pat Courtney – Glanworth; Willie Magner – Castletownroche; Rory McNamara – Dromina; Henry France – Charleville.
Avondhu defeated Glen Rovers in the semi-final, and Imokilly in the Q-Final, in that year of 1967.
DEATH OF TIMMY ‘JONTY’ O’LEARY – =93How oft do my thoughts in their fancy take flight to the home of my childhood away’ – the opening lines of a great ballad that evokes memories of supporting Cork teams down through the years.
Whenever, where ever – Jonty was present – Colourful and happy, and regaling in the occasion, and the colour when Cork were playing.
Sadly, Jonty died last week, and from Killavullen GAA club, we send our condolences to his wife, family, Club St Finbarr’s and many, many friends.
I am sure that St Peter is hearing all about Cork now, if he did not know about it before, Jonty will tell him, ‘for Sure, boy’.