What was believed to have been a lightning strike wiped out 13 livestock on the farm of Mike and Anne Kenny at Macroney, Kilworth in January 1996. With an established farm, having ‘starting from scratch in the early 1980s’, they relayed through The Avondhu sentiments of thanks to their extended family, neighbours and friends who ‘rallied to their aid when the news broke’.
Pupils at Clondulane National School completed a mural in their school yard, designed by Susan McCarthy which greatly enhanced their play area. Teacher Aileen Ryan praised the pupils for their ‘community effort’, with the children bringing the paint needed for the project from their own homes. The school set aside a few hours a week to complete the cartoon-themed mural. A child-centered project, it imparted the importance of care for the environment on the young pupils.
A victory for people power – good news for residents at Redmond Street, Fermoy and surrounding area, as Fermoy Geriatric Association withdrew their proposal to purchase the playground at Redmond Street . The Association were looking to purchase the playground, which had been the property of the local council since 1947, with the intention of building five single occupant houses on the site. The sale would see part of the site left in the hands of the local council, to be developed as a smaller playground, at an estimated cost of £25,000. The proposal was vigorously opposed by residents on the southside of the town, who had picketed outside Fermoy Courthouse in September 1995, prior to a monthly meeting of UDC. The only councillors opposed to the sale were John Hussey and John Murphy, with a 300-signature petition handed into a council meeting, with the UDC voting in favour of the sale. Locals feared the proposed sale would see their children ‘forced to play on the roads’ – being termed as ‘completely unacceptable’.
Ned Fraher from Anglesboro, a local representative with New Ireland Assurance for over 35 years, was awarded Salesperson of the Year, having achieved a new record in the business, becoming the first person to break the £100,000 barrier for annual premium sales. His reward? Prestigious trips abroad – firstly to Marbella in May 1996 and later in June to the high profile $1M round table conference in California, an honour exclusive to the top 3% of life assurance people in the world.
A group of people in Fermoy ‘disillusioned and frustrated by their political representatives in the town and in the Dail’ invited Nora Bennis, leader of the ‘new National Party’, to visit the town with the intention of establishing a local branch. A ‘broad based conservative party, committed to promoting traditional values and preserving our culture and heritage’, organisers were expecting a ‘huge turnout’ in The Grand Hotel ballroom in February 1996.
The Rathcormac Inn, under the proprietorship of Sheila and James Lees, were looking forward to the official opening of their newly renovated function room, known as The Bride Room. A feature in The Avondhu highlighted the potential of the premises, with Johnny Barrett to play for the grand opening in January 1996.
Postman Con Kiely retired from duty after 47 years service in the Castletownroche/Shanballymore area. Knowing the lie of the land better than most, Con told The Avondhu he would miss the regular contact with so many people, though admitted that he couldn’t be ‘running around like a schoolboy anymore’ and was looking forward to his retirement. The biggest change over the course of his career came in 1969, when he ‘hung up his bicycle clips and was given a van in return’.
Fermoy Soccer Club’s U12 team, Carrig Rangers, secured the league title when recording an impressive 3-0 away victory over Ardmore. A tie which required either a draw or win to take the title, they played into a strong breeze in the opening period, and reached the interval scoreless, having gone close on a number of occasions. A successful spot kick from Barry Ryan saw the Fermoy side take the lead 10 minutes into the second half, with further goals from Shane Hogan and Vincent Fenton sealing the issue. They were managed by Richard Hogan and Jim Bartley. Team: J O’Brien, I Prickett, R Kelleher, L Roche (capt), G Daly, R O’Sullivan, P Hogan, S Hogan, A Baragry, B Ryan, P White. Subs: M Kennedy, W Hannon, P Barry, D O’Sullivan, V Fenton, M Noonan, D Noonan.
