KILDORRERY ROAD GETS NOD FOR REPAIR WORK

The National Roads Authority (NRA) have confirmed this week that the much needed repair work to the N72 from Mitchelstown to Kildorrery will soon get under-way.

However, while the funds for the repair of the N72 to Kildorrery have been allocated, a spokesman for the NRA could not confirm if money was available for the long awaited works in Kildorrery village, “The NRA is committed to seeing the works completed as discussed with local councillors on the N72 and N73 in County Cork, but it is subject to the availability of funding for this current year (2010).

"The NRA is undergoing a national review for funding and if resources become available these works would be a main area of focus for completion within County Cork. We are hopeful but there are no guarantees until the review is completed by the end of September early October,” Sean O’Neill, press spokesperson for the NRA, told The Avondhu.

ENGINEER OPTIMISTIC

While the NRA would not be drawn on the possibility of work beginning in Kildorrery village, Cork County Council senior engineer Aidan Weir is optimistic that work will go ahead in the village this year, “While the funds are in place and the work on the N72 from Mitchelstown to Kildorrery is set to begin. We will be putting the proposed work in Kildorrery village out to tender in the near future and all going well we hope to begin work before the end of 2010,” Aidan Weir told The Avondhu.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING

Additional funding of €3 million for the N73 Mallow – Mitchelstown road was granted by the National Roads Authority (NRA) this week.

“I welcome the news that instructions were given by the NRA for Cork County Council to go to design and tender stage with regards to Kildorrery village. This was announced by the NRA prior to the Northern division of Cork County Council meeting NRA officials in Dublin Councillor Tom Barry told The Avondhu.

THIRTY ONE YEAR WAIT

Following a motion proposed by Cllr Tom Barry to Cork County Council last October to prioritize a major upgrade of the N72 Mallow- Fermoy road, members of Cork County Council and Council engineers met with NRA officials. Cllr.

Barry stated that thirty-one years was far too long to wait for funding and ten deaths were completely unacceptable. He informed the NRA that there are thirty-three blind bends on the Castletownroche – Mallow section of road with some parts too narrow for large vehicles to pass safely.

“All it takes for a fatal accident to occur here is one temporary lapse in concentration or somebody to make a mistake," Cllr Barry said.

FRANK IS CONFIDENT

Cllr Frank O’Flynn is confident that while the proposed work at Kildorrery village is now to go out to design and tender funds will be found for work to begin early in 2011, “the work is long overdue and I am sure that work will begin early in 2011,” Cllr O’Flynn said.

Tom Keating of Kildorrey Community Council commented, “We have waited long enough for the work to begin in the village and we hope that this will begin before the end of the year.

"I am looking forward to the job being well done and especially burying the overhead cables with new lighting and the pedestrian crossing sorted which has been left in unfinished state for the last ten years. I would like to thank everyone for their hard work, councillors Kevin O’Keeffe, Frank O’ Flynn and Tom Barry.

"Special thanks to Pa O’Driscoll who took the time to walk the main street last spring and has kept us informed of progress on the situation. Thanks to Brendan O’Gorman Cork County Council for pursuing the matter over the years and everyone that helped us in getting to this stage.”

KILCORAN LODGE HOTEL JOBS AT RISK OVER ROAD SIGN ISSUE

Forty jobs at Kilcoran Lodge Hotel, outside Cahir are at risk, due to the loss of passing trade since the opening of the new N8 motorway between Dublin and Cork. South Tipperary County Council have been accused of putting jobs at the hotel at risk as they told the hotel to remove a sign in a field adjacent to the N8.

The Avondhu this week spoke to hotel manager Liam Duffy - “There are two exits off the motorway, Exit 12 is in the Cork County Council area, and they have not contacted us to remove signs. Exit 11 is in the South Tipperary County Council area and they asked us to remove a sign for our hotel. It is just so hard now to find us. The council has also told us not to bother applying for permission to erect off road signage.”

PASSING TRADE

“We rely heavily on passing trade and all we are doing is trying to make people aware of where we are. I cannot understand why the county council will not listen, will not recognise that a problem has been created by the new road infrastructure and will not sit down to try and find a solution.”

Cllr Mattie McGrath told The Avondhu, “It beggars belief what is going on here. These are tough times and I cannot comprehend the unbelievable lack of understanding from the council. The council is treating these people with such disdain and contempt. Kilcoran Lodge Hotel relies heavily on passing trade; they just want people to know where they are. What is the problem with that?

"There are no stoppage points between Cork and Dublin and, for health and safety reasons alone, motorists should be made aware that there is a hotel in the vicinity if they wish to stop off for a break.”

HARD PRESSED

Derry McGrath added, “I spoke with the NRA and they said it was an issue for the South Tipperary County Council. I had a meeting with the council and they have made their position clear, a sign cannot be erected and that is the end of that as far as they are concerned.

"They put pressure on these hard pressed businesses to pay their rates yet they wont allow them to get back some trade they have lost as a result of the new motorway. It’s despicable. I have asked for another meeting with the council but they have refused.”

Deputy Ned O’Keeffe commented, “The Kilcoran Lodge Hotel is a fantastic hospitality stop for people traveling from Cork to Dublin and vice versa. The South Tipperary County Council is taking things a bit far here.”

The Avondhu contacted The Department of the Environment for a comment and was told that, “The minister has no role in relation to planning enforcement and he is precluded by legislation from interfering in individual cases.”

NATIONAL POLICY

Why is it that Cork County Council doesn’t have a problem with signage, several can be seen before motorists turn off for Mitchelstown from Cork, and South Tipperary Council does. Surely it should be the same across the board?

The Avondhu put this question to South Tipperary County Council director of services Billy McEvoy, who answered, “I can’t comment on Cork County Council and what they allow. The bottom line is there is a national policy with strict controls on the number of signs on the motorway. We met with the NRA in 2009 in relation to Kilcoran Lodge Hotel and their concerns, and we got approval for a finger signpost for Kilcoran at Exit 11.”

The whole idea is to try and limit the number of signs as motorists are traveling at 120kph on the motorway. I fully understand where the hotel is coming from and I empathise with them during these hard times. If they are not happy with the decision then they can go and appeal it with An Bord Pleanala,” Mr McEvoy concluded.

ANCIENT BURIAL GROUND MEMORIAL BLESSED IN KILBEHENNY

Up to 100 people attended a special Mass and the blessing of an ancient burial ground memorial in Kilbehenny on Friday night of last week, writes John Barrett.

The evening commenced with Mass at 7.30pm, which was celebrated in the local parish church by Fr Richard Kelly who later blessed the plaque at Castlequarter. The erection of the special plaque came on foot of the village plan drawn up for Kilbehenny and subsequent archaeological excavations at the site by Sarah McCutcheon of Limerick County Council. Maps drawn up in 1845 indicate that the area concerned, located on Bailey’s farm, may have been a burial ground as far back as the 13th or 14th century.

Speaking to The Avondhu, Moss Fitzgerald of Kilbehenny Community Centre committee said, “It was a lovely occasion and there was a very unique atmosphere as the memorial was blessed by Fr Kelly. We then enjoyed tea and refreshments in the open air and people seemed to really enjoy the night.”

Moss Fitzgerald went on to offer a special word of thanks to the landowners, the Bailey family for their co-operation and help with the project. When questioned about the prospects for Kilbehenny in the Tidy Towns competition, the results of which will be announced shortly, Moss smiled and humbly said, “We’re just keeping our fingers crossed.”

FERMOY RANKED 13TH OUT OF 53 TOWNS SURVEYED IN LITTER LEAGUE

Although well down the table from its once lofty second position, Fermoy still managed to jump all of 14 places from last year to 13th spot in the 2010 Irish Business Against Litter survey.

The town retained its coveted ‘clean to European norms’ designation with Irish Business Against Litter judges adding that the people of Fermoy should be complimented for their efforts in keeping the town litter free.

The survey showed that - ‘Well over half the sites surveyed in Fermoy were in the top grade, and there was no bad site. The good sites, such as the town park, St Joseph’s National School, and the approach roads from Cork and Dublin were not just clear of litter but very well maintained’.

CLIMBING THE RANKS

Speaking to The Avondhu, Cllr Noel McCarthy said, “Last year I was disappointed at the town being ranked 27th but now it’s great to see we have climbed the ranks. However, as chairman of the tidy towns committee I would like to see us in the top ten and that will be our aim. The committee we have currently is fantastic and we have a lot of new blood over the last 12 months.”

PERFECT TECHNOLOGY

IBAL is calling on businesses to clean up outside their premises twice a day to improve our streetscapes. People are invited to submit photos by mobile phone of litter blackspots in their neighbourhood as part of a campaign to alert local authorities to litter ridden areas locally.

“This is the perfect technology through which people can highlight areas that urgently need cleaning up,” explained Dr Tom Cavanagh, chairman of IBAL. Photos can be emailed to litterspotter.2010@ twitpic.com.

CLEANEST CITY

Wexford was judged Ireland’s cleanest town in the survey, which was conducted by An Taisce, who praised the town’s ‘consistently high standards of maintenance of the environment.’ Sligo, Killarney and Letterkenny were the cleanest towns in their respective provinces, while Waterford emerged as the country’s cleanest city.

“While the drop in the number of litter free towns is a disappointment, the overall result here is positive,” Dr Cavanagh stated.

“The average score of all the towns surveyed is now closer than ever to the European average.”

According to IBAL, the loss of litter free status was caused in most cases by the neglect by county councils of approach roads, among them key entry points to airports and seaports. Unlike roads in urban areas, these are not subject to a cleaning schedule.

GUMMED UP PAVEMENTS

According to the Litter Act, businesses are responsible for keeping the visible areas outside their premises free of litter at all times, regardless of the source of the litter.

As the survey showed gum litter levels to be ever increasing, IBAL restated its contention that only degradable gum should be sold in Ireland as opposed to conventional gum which remains stuck to pavements for up to 25 years.

GOLD MEDAL PERFORMANCE FROM MITCHELSTOWN FIRM

Horgan’s Delicatessen Supplies of Mitchelstown have come up trumps with three ‘Great Taste Awards’ for their products, Irish Angus Pastrami, Honey Baked Ham on the bone and Irish Angus Spiced Beef.

Michael Horgan managing director, Horgan’s Delicatessen Supplies, said of their achievement, “Horgan’s have always strived for quality and value for all our products but above all great taste has been imperative so to receive these three Great Taste Awards is confirmation that we are delivering to our customers. The Great Taste Awards symbol shows our customers that our products have been through a rigorous judging process and have come out on top.

“Being the third generation of a butchering family which was founded by my grandfather in Mitchelstown in 1921, the Horgan family name has become synonymous with premium quality meats. I have no doubt that we have played a significant part in helping to open up the taste buds of the Irish consumer,” Michael concluded.

FERMOY CREDIT UNION AND TOSS BRYAN ELECTRICAL TEAM UP TO SPONSOR HERITAGE PROJECT

In October 2009, Christ Church, Fermoy celebrated its bicentenary. To mark the occasion, Fermoy Church of Ireland undertook a project to document the Christian heritage of the Fermoy parish.

The Fermoy parish of the Church of Ireland covers an area of about 1,000 sq. km. It is bounded on the north by the Limerick and Tipperary borders, on the east by the Waterford border, it goes as far south as Knockraha, while its western border is the Claidh Dubh, a two thousand year old wall extending from the Ballyhouras to the Nagles. Ian Fleming and Donal O Lochlainn assembled a catalogue of over 75 separate videos of the ecclesiastical sites in the Fermoy parish for presentation during the weeklong celebration.

So popular was the presentation during the celebrations, that Allied Irish Bank, Pearse Square, Fermoy offered its premises for two weeks before Christmas 2009 to extend the exhibition.

Later, in May 2010, the Fermoy/Ploemeur/Nowa Deba Twinning Association requested the exhibition to be staged in Colaiste an Chraoibhin for the duration of the twinning celebrations.

In June 2010, Christ Church, Fermoy, was again proud to stage it during the flower festival.

Toss Bryan and Fermoy Credit Union have now come together to sponsor the exhibition. As a result, the group are now in a position to make the exhibition available locally on a more permanent basis and are in discussions with Fermoy Library with a view to making this happen.

Speaking to The Avondhu, Pat Kent, manager Toss Bryan Electrical said, “It’s very important for local business to get involved in projects like this. It will go some way to promoting Fermoy a heritage centre for the Blackwater Valley and we are delighted to be associated with it.”

Pat Morrissey of Fermoy Credit Union echoed this sentiment, “Fermoy Credit Union is delighted to be involved with this project. Last year we used the material from the exhibition for our calendar and there was a great response to it.”

“We approached Donal and Ian with a view to making this very attractive and interesting exhibition available to a much wider audience. We were even more delighted when Toss Bryan Electrical came on board with us,” he concluded.