BACK TO SCHOOL
Best wishes to all the young people of our parish as they return to school after the most unprecedented school year and summer of their lives. It will be great to hear the voices and laughter of the children in our schools, to hear the buildings come alive again. It is a new start for all pupils this year as they get to grips with a new normal in a familiar environment.
Little did they or the staff know that saying ‘slán’ as they headed out the school door on a wet Thursday in March that their worlds would be so greatly changed when they returned, yet so greatly enhanced seeing the increased kindness and goodness around them. There is a new found appreciation of the little things in life. New skills have been learned and old hobbies revived.
To all the staff in both our schools, Killavullen NS and Ballygown NS, who have been extremely busy over the last while preparing for a safe return to school during a pandemic we say ‘go raibh maith agaibh’ and wish you all a safe and healthy year ahead.
First day at school – junior infants and First years. Best wishes to all the Junior Infant children who are starting primary school this week, and good luck to all the First years as they embark on the next stage of their education in our local secondary schools.
ART EXHIBITION
Local Killavullen artist Anita Geaney is currently exhibiting a selection of some of her recent paintings and prints at the Pink Moon Cafe, 23A Washington Street West, Cork City. Anita is inspired by nature, landscape and local scenery as well as her organic garden. She has exhibited widely and is presently a member of Cork Printmakers.
Pink Moon cafe is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exhibition on display till September 4. For more details check out: instagram@geananita
VINTAGE TRACTOR RUN POSTPONED
Killavullen Vintage Tractor Run which is held each year is being postponed till 2021 in the interest of the health and safety of their members and the many faithful spectators not only in Killavullen but those who turn out along the route as well as in the towns and villages the tractors pass through. This has been a very enjoyable Sunday morning each year as more and more people gather to see the many tractors, take photos, chat to the enthusiasts and for some who take their families on walks down memory lane as the tractors evoke memories of times gone by. While it is disappointing that this successful charitable event, which in the past has raised funds for many local causes in Killavullen and the North Cork area, has to be postponed this year it is in the best interest of all during these unusual Covid-19 times, we look forward to 2021 and saving the date in our diaries and waving you off from Sweet Killavullen.
STORMY SEASON
We have had two storms in one week and it is important to have the following numbers in a safe place in case of more. Useful Contact numbers: to report issues such as fallen trees, flooding and road damage, contact Cork County Council’s Emergency Out of Hours number 021 4800048. Strong winds may give rise to localised power outages. In the event of a disruption to power supply, please contact ESB Networks at 1850 372999. You should have your ESB number to hand to be able to report an outage. In the event of a disruption to water supply, please contact Irish Water at 1850 278278. In the event of an emergency call 999 or 112 and request the Fire Service, Ambulance Service, Gardaí or Irish Coastguard as appropriate. Do not assume others will do this.
COMMUNITY CENTRE REOPENING POSTPONED
Killavullen Community Council are saddened to announce that the intended re-opening of Killavullen Community Centre from September 1 will have to be postponed due to the current Covid 19 restrictions. All HSE guidelines regarding Covid-19 must be adhered to and all guidelines followed for the community centre to reopen. Unfortunately at this moment in time it is not advisable for Killavullen Community Centre to reopen just yet. For any club or organisation which needs further details on this please contact killhallbookings@gmail.com.
CUISLE AVONDHU
Cuisle Avondhu will be returning in September for music classes. Details to be announced.
LADIES’ FOOTBALL
Our under-12s had a great sporting game in Mitchelstown on Sunday and ended the match with an impressive win. Well done to all the players and their coaching team. Club shorts are now available for sale. Please contact your coach for details on how to order them.
CHURCH NEWS
PUBLIC MASSES – Our liturgies have become simpler and are in some ways more dignified and meaningful. While the internet and social media are providing a new way of connecting to the church, nothing can replace the physical gathering around the table of the Lord in the local parish.
Guidelines: Wash your hands before leaving home for the church and on your return. Sanitize your hands on entering the church and as you leave. Consider wearing a mask/face guard while at Mass. ‘Please sit here’ stickers have been installed to mark the spot where you or your family group should sit. Sit two metres away from all other persons or household groups. Make greater use of our front seats. Observe respiratory etiquette while at church. Our churches are well ventilated and regularly sanitized thanks to the efforts of our sacristans, volunteer cleaners, and CE workers.
On the experience of the past few weeks, most vacant seating is available at Killavullen 7 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass. If you are hesitant about returning to Sunday
Mass you might also consider attending a weekday Mass in the first instance.
KILLAVULLEN/ANNAKISHA YOUNG CHRISTIAN WORKERS –A charity carwash, with outdoor refreshments (subject to HSE guidelines), will take place on Saturday, September 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Parochial House, Ballygriffin.
PARISH HISTORY – killavullenparish.ie: now includes a section for parish history notes. If you would like to contribute a short piece (150-200 words/photos) on a tidbit from our parish’s Christian heritage, please get in contact.
FARMER’S MARKET
Killavullen Farmer’s Market will take place again this coming Saturday, September 5, at 10.30 a.m. Two new craft stalls have begun at the market and the tomato stall is now in season also. It is wonderful that the tunnel has now re-opened and is operating a one way system through it.
It is one of the oldest markets in Ireland, located at the Birthplace of Nano Nagle. The market has spent a lot of time working out best practice in the current Covid-19 situation, consulting with the HSE and relevant authorities. The organisers would also welcome any tips or advice you may have for improvement or adjustment to how it is run in the current climate.
GAA CLUB NOTES
Killavullen overcame Ballyclough last Saturday night in Buttevant in the third and final game of the Round Robin series game in the Junior A Hurling Championship. The score at the end was 2-17 to 0-11 in our favour, but that score is a tad harsh on Ballyclough, who provided manful opposition for a good deal of the game.
Ballyclough opened the scoring in the second minute from a free but we got back on level terms, courtesy of a Mike O’Connor point in the fifth minute, and we took the lead with Ian O’Gorman, point from play again before Mike put us leading 0-03 to 0-01 in the ninth minute. Ballyclough scored a pointed free in the 10th minute, and they drew level in the 13th minute. Mike scored again from distance in the 15th but Ballyclough converted two quick fire points from free’s in the 17th minute to lead at the first water break, 0-05 to 0-04.
Ballyclough pushed out that lead further with another converted free from their talented centre forward Damien Buckley but Colm Looney, who was quite up to then, burst off the shackles, got out in front of his man, and fired a lovely point over his shoulder in the 20th minute before Eddie Cotter, scored the best point of the opening period, from out on the wing, after side stepping two opponents. Damien Buckley converted another free but Eddie Cotter, who was at the heart of most of Killavullen’s good play equalised for us in the 26th minute from a free. Eddie took us ahead with another point, before Colm Looney extended our lead in the 29th minute and Eddie scored the final score of the first half from a free in the 31st minute of the half. 0-10 to 0-07 ahead at the break, but Killavullen would not have been entirely happy with their performance, thus far in the game, but came good in the last five minutes of the halve.
After the interval break, Ballyclough were first to score another free but we cancelled that out with another Eddie Cotter free.
Ballyclough pointed another free only for Ian O’Gorman to get another point from play to keep the gap at three points between the teams. Eddie converted another free, and Ballyclough lost a player to a straight red card, and Darragh O’Grady replaced Liam Fox, in our forward division. We took a giant step towards the next round of the championship, when Jack O’Connor blocked down a ball that was going wide, and the ball only momentarily hit the ground, before Colm Looney pulled hard and fast, and beat Colm O’Neill in the Ballyclough goal.
Brian Cotter was introduced for Pa Sheahan and we added to our score when Jack O’Connor controlled a ball expertly on his stick, and sent in over the bar. One of Ballyclough stand out players on the night, Shane Buckley sent over a lovely long range point to bring their tally to 0-10 as against 1-15 for us at the interval for the final water break. Ballyclough were first to score in the final quarter, but Darragh O’Grady got a fine point for us, after evading his man and scampering in towards the goal. Seán O’Regan replaced Séamus Fox, who had a fine game back after his injury and Eoin Birchill replaced Charlie Lillis. Our second goal of the night occurred when Liam Cronin fine shot on the run was only parried by Colm O’Neil in goals for Ballyclough, and Colm pounced again to score another goal, that the goalie was powerless to stop. We got the final point of the game from Jack O’Connor to bring our tally to 2-17 to 0-11 on the night.
On the night, we had telling performances from each of the back line, and Mike was very assured in goals. Our midfielders and forwards took their que from the minor team in the way that they defeated Mallow in the Minor A Hurling championship during the week, in that they worked very hard as a unit and harried and pressed Ballyclough, who ended the game with 13 players after a player received two yellow cards. Strong competition for places can only spurn us onwards to achieve better.
We play next weekend against the Pool one winner Clyda Rovers in the ultra-competitive Junior A hurling championship and they will be a formidable opponents.
The game was played behind closed doors, due to Covid restrictions, but with thanks to Ballyclough, and facilitation by Buttevant, the game was streamed live on Killavullen’s GAA Facebook page. Joe Howard, our chairman deserves special mention for the amount of work he undertook to make this happen, and he was aided by John Hannon in assembling the array of technology to make it occur.
SIGNIFICANT WIN FOR MINOR HURLERS – Killavullen minor hurlers travelled to our near neighbours Mallow for round three of the hurling championship on Wednesday evening last August 19.
Both teams started well and were level two points apiece after the first 10 minutes. However, from that point on Killavullen showed their ruthless side by powering there way to an emphatic victory. Some excellent hurling out of defence into the forwards yielded some wonderful points from play. Jamie Magner kept the score board ticking over with frees. Killavullen’s dogged defence was in no mood to give up scores with some very good tackling, hooking and blocking. Overall an excellent display of hurling from our minors who now have two wins from three and sit third in the table behind Fermoy and Charleville. Final score Killavullen 2-22 Mallow 0-6
JUNIOR HURLING – Killavullen play Clyda Rovers, the reigning Divisional Junior A Champions, in in the next Championship Game in the Quarter Final of the Hibernian Hotel Junior Hurling Championship, on August 29 in Buttevant at 6.30 p.m.. In lieu of the government advice, regrettably, this game must be played behind closed doors, but the Triple J BC Group hope to stream the game live, from Buttevant again.
FIRST FINAL OF THIS STRANGE YEAR – On Saturday, August 29, at midday, Killavullen play Grenagh in Ballyclough in the Rebel Óg Fe 16 Division 2 HL Cup Final.
Consistent with the advice of Cork GAA on Wednesday, August 19, the Government have now confirmed the parents/ guardians attending training or games in a safeguarding/supervisory capacity are not classified as spectators; however strict social distancing and public health guidelines should be adhered to at all times. In that context, one parent/guardian per child is permitted to attend at a sporting event, including a game or training session, should they consider it necessary.
We wish Redmond and his coaching group success with this group, who certainly have put in a good effort to try and wrestle this league title.