2023 MEMORIES ARCHIVES

The front page of TheAvondhu 21 years ago carried the news of a bronze plaque which had been unveiled on Convent Hill, Mitchelstown to honour the Presentation nuns, who had departed from the town and the convent the previous December.

In other front page news a farmers’ group slammed Dairygold over the closures of branches in Glanworth, one of 23 throughout the region. The branch had always shown a profit and that year alone sales were up 30%. Protesters had met with officials and made their point ‘forcefully’ saying this was playing into competitors’ hands; their resistance was to no avail.

Esther McCormack, Fermoy, celebrated her marriage to Ross Walker with a ride on the Indian elephant, Tiche, in her wedding dress. Tiche was in town as part of the visiting Daredevil Circus.

Meanwhile, Fermoy Enterprise Board chairman, Michael Hanley, was strongly critical of the condition of the Triangle Field (near the town park entrance) which was dug up after the circus had visited; saying that previously the council had decided that no activity should take place there between October and May.

In Mitchelstown, herringbone parking was to be reintroduced on Baldwin Street after lobbying and com

plaints by businesses and Dairygold, who had lost parking spaces as a result of changes.

Glanworth Mill was taken on by new owners, Margaret and Michael Cooke, who planned no ‘ major changes’. It had been closed since the beginning of 2003, having been saved from dereliction by previous owners Lynne Glasscoe and Emelyn Heaps. In 2003 there was early adoption of the modular home concept as Fermoy father-andson team, Christy and Kevin Ring, started a new business, offering the starter home and granny flat concept for those that could not afford the ‘exorbitant prices charged for sites these days’.

Meanwhile, in Conna, Oliver and Frances Twomey were preparing to celebrate 25 years in The Fisherman’s Rest Bar. A new business, Lismore Books, was due to open that upcoming June in the town and in Lismore also, presentations were made to Jimmy Mangan to mark the historic win at the British Grand National with Monty’s Pass. Speaking of horses, there was local success at the Irish Grand National as the second-placed Knock Knock had been bred by the O’Keeffes from Glanworth; a steward’s enquiry saw Timbera win by a head.

Organisers of the John Anderson Weekend were ‘reasonably happy’ with the weekend but the opening night was poorly attended with the weather against organisers. Things ‘picked up’ as the weekend went on and the historical re-enactment in the town park, in particular, was considered a great success.

The Mitchelstown recycling facility in the church carpark was rampant with litter, while neighbouring Fermoy was having a little more success as they planned to install CCTV. Meanwhile, there was anger in Mitchelstown as the number of skips provided for the Spring Clean Week had been drastically cut due to financial constraints.

In 2023, a warning was issued about the risks of accidental strangulation from yo-yo ball toys, which were recently withdrawn from the British market, with Ireland following suit. Mitchelstown Credit Union were offering a free piece of luggage with every holiday loan of over €2,000. Elsewhere, a ‘monster coffee morning’ was held in Kilworth by Trócaire in aid of the Iraqi Fund. Confirmation children could attend for free, with €3 for others.

The contractor who had won the contract for the new schools in Glenahulla and Cappoquin went into liquidation, meaning work came to an abrupt halt. Builders had been on site just an hour before the news was announced. The Department of Education were seeking to get the contractor back on site or face a new tender process.

In entertainment, Mitchelstown’s Patsy O’Brien, a guitarist from Church Street, was pictured with Finbarr Furey, whom he had played with in Connecticut, USA. Elsewhere, Stevie Starr, ‘the regurgitator’, was due to perform at SG1. The performer was able to swallow almost anything and then regurgitate it intact, including a Rubik’s Cube and a cigarette, which was regurgitated still lit! In Dublin, the Fermoy Concert Band were beaten by just one point by Clonmel at the National Band Championships.

In sports, St Colman’s were defeated by Kilkenny’s St Kieran’s in the All-Ireland Colleges’ final 1-15 to 1-04. Lismore won the Red House League defeating Cappoquin 3-0, with the hat-trick scored by Owen Bennett, while Galtee Rovers were the Griffin Cup champions defeating Mitchelstown Celtic 4-1 under captain Jamie Finn. Mr Finn had delegated accepting the cup to his vice-captain, Mick Griffin, father of the late Paul after whom the cup was named.

Combatants, Derek Gallagher, Dave Senior and Aoife Hayes, with some young people who attended the battle re-enactment held in Fermoy Town Park 21 years ago. L-r: brothers, Barry and Jamie Coughlan, Ciarán Hanley, along with Tadhg and Maria Downey.

Pupils from Kilmagner N.S. who won the junior section of the Ballyduff NS Parents’ Association Quiz Night, held in St. Michael’s Hall in 2003, l-r: Brian Carroll, Chris Noonan, Ciara Bransfield and Lucy Jones. Presenting the prize is Tommy Enright of Tallow Credit Union.

Girls night out and all smiles for the camera at the Avondhu Hunt end of season ball in The Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown 21 years ago, were Laura O’Farrell, Yvonne O’Mahoney, Catherine Hennessy, Maeve Strappe, Catherine O’Farrell and Niamh O’Carroll.

Dan Murphy, Lackendarragh, Glenville, who held his 90th birthday party in The Roundy House, Ballyhooly, pictured celebrating the occasion with his wife, Mary, son, Donal and daughters, Esther Casey (left) and Rose Kelleher.

Doneraile girls enjoying their local point-to-point races in Dromahane in 2003, l-r: Marion Murphy, Cornelía Galwey, Maria Horgan and Clíodhna Galwey.

Stephen O’Connell, (second right), Carrigmallow, Killavullen, winner of the Easter Pool Tournament final which took place in Mary G’s, Kildorrery, being presented with a clock and perpetual shield by proprietor, Josephine Enright. Runner-up, Tom Aherne Jr., from Quitrent, received his prize from Ted Enright.

Looking to make a few bob in Dromahane at the Doneraile Point-to-Points in 2003, were Ballyhooly punters, l-r: Jim O’Gorman with Mick and Phil Leahy.

Sharpshooter Pte. Michael Brennock, from Uplands, Fermoy, at the 1st Southern Brigade, RDF shooting competitions in Kilworth 21 years ago.