2000 MEMORIES FROM THE ARCHIVES

THIS WEEK 21 YEARS AGO

There were reports of fun and frolics at Mac’s Bar in Fermoy as a competition was held to find the town’s Karaoke Queen. The Guinness sponsored event drew huge crowds as tickets sold out early. Songs on the night included ones from Westlife, Boyzone, Shania Twain and Trisha Yearwood. The winner was Dolores O’Leary who took home the £500 prize.

Mitchelstown Community Leisure Centre committee were set to meet to discuss the sale of 5.5 acres of their eight acre site. The plan was to sell the plot to fund phase one of their leisure centre project. The first phase of development was planned to include a 20 metre swimming pool and fitness gym, complete with changing rooms, steam room, sauna, jacuzzi and meeting rooms. It was envisaged it would cost £2.2 million.

Ben Lynch, chairman of the development committee, said that the sale of land came after much soul searching. “When the land is sold, there will be more than a sufficient amount of land left over for any future expansion. We have been in touch with various agencies regarding funding, but unless a substantial amount of the work is done by ourselves, the National Lottery, for instance, will not support us,” he said.

The Jubilee Devotions were the lead story as huge crowds went to Corrin, Fermoy to take part in events, held since the first Sunday of Lent. There were reports that crowds continued to grow every Sunday as locals flocked to the area.

Corrin had been designated as a special place of pilgrimage, encompassing the parishes of Castlelyons and Fermoy. The cross had received additional lighting and had also been complemented by floodlighting from both sides. This meant the well known landmark could also be seen from the East Cork side.

TheAvondhu reported that there was a financial windfall for the area, as people were expected to flock to the area for religious pilgrimages. “Corrin has enormous potential and with the proper marketing, could prove to be a major means of attracting hundreds of people to the Fermoy area on a daily basis in the foreseeable future,” one local said.

Cork County Council’s (CCC) decision on the Mitchelstown

Traffic Management Plan (TMP) was to be delayed until May 2000 as a deputation by residents were due to discuss the issue with councillors. There was also some strong debate at a meeting in Glanworth regarding the strategy. The conference heard from residents who welcomed much of the report, but were concerned about a number of serious omissions.

Kevin Finn told the meeting that the residents made submissions at draft stage, but never thought that ‘essential safety and conservation measures’ would be omitted from the final document. Cllr PJ Walsh said residents from George’s Street had been in touch with him on numerous occasions with their concerns.

Deputy Paul Bradford said that his understanding of the report was that nothing was set in stone and it could be updated and changed in time. Tom Stritch, Senior Executive Engineer CCC, said this was the case and that certain elements in the plan would require expansion. He added that the plan could not be adopted in full and it would not all be implemented.

Much respected Garda, Jimmy O’Rourke, had a large send off at his retirement get together in the Community Hall in Tallow. Garda Dan Dineen paid tribute to his colleague and said it was an honour to work with him. Garda Pat Norris of Lismore also spoke warmly of his departing colleague - “Our job would have been a lot more unbalanced without a man like Jimmy and speaking on behalf of everyone here, we wish you and your family as many years together as you have been in the job,” he said.

In the March 18th, 2021 edition of TheAvondhu, there was a call for a new bridge in Glanworth. Well, it was no different back in the year 2000 as the Fermoy-Mallow Area Committee were also considering such a proposal.

In sport - Fermoy jockey David O’Meara rode Bells Life as the 11-2 winner of the Martell Fox Hunters Chase at the Aintree meeting. In what is the grand national for amateur riders, Bells Life, a doubtful runner earlier that week, gave David a dream ride, hitting the front before the final fence and was expertly guided to win by nine lengths.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better ride, the horse travelled well and jumped from fence to fence,” David said.

David learned his trade riding points-to-points for Michael Hourigan while he was at university.

Tom Murray, principal Kilmagner National School, with Bishop of Cloyne John Magee and pupils from the school who were confirmed in Castlelyons in April 2000.

L-r: Jim Mullins, Eamon O’Gorman, Liam and Tom Molan, Jack Mullins and Joan Molan at a clearance sale in Mitchelstown Mart in April 2000.

Michael O’Riordan, managing director Mitchelsfort Contracting Ltd., presenting a sponsorship cheque to Dan Kearney, chairman Watergrasshill GAA in the presence of Sean O’Riordan, treasurer; Pat O’Connor, assistant secretary; Dan O’Reilly; John Desmond, vice chairman; Danny O’Farrell; Jim Sarsfield, East Cork representative; Denis Barry and Jonathan Jamel.

Some local ladies who operated the tote at a race night in Watergrasshill Community Centre in April 2000, front l-r: Rosarie O’Shea, Mairead O’Callaghan and Joan Cahill with back, Sheila Hurley and Rose O’Mahony.

Ducks on the march - caretaker of Loreto Secondary School, Fermoy, Patsy Flynn, escorting a mallard and her 11 ducklings across town towards the River Blackwater. The newly hatched brood, which had taken up residence in the school grounds, were safely transferred to their new home in Barnane.

Killavullen cousins, l-r: Kevin Brennan, Mark O’Riordan and Kevin O’Shea, who were Confirmed in Killavullen parish church 21 years ago, in April 2000.

Claude Mannas, Wimbledon FC’s chief scout in Ireland, with local lads Shane Mullally and William O’Callaghan during trials in Doneraile.

Jack Sweeney, Edmond Kent and Tom O’Dowd, local farmers who attended the Glanbia Open Day in Castlelyons in 2000.