As we settle into 2014, Avondhu reporters Sandra Quinn and Ellen Lynch look back on 2013 in the continuation of our year in review.

JULY

By the start of July, it had been seven weeks since the traffic and litter warden Jim Donnelly had retired and the town's people were starting to see a noticeable decline with parking. This was a story which was followed and pursued by The Avondhu right up to the beginning of December when the warden from Fermoy started visiting the town unannounced to keep the parking situation in check.

We also covered a story about Sr Enda Philomena Ryan from Galbally who was described as a pioneer for women's education in South East Asia and had a book written about all the work she has done in Malaysia.

July brought a heatwave and with it warnings from the Irish Coast Guard to members of the public to be extra careful around water. Fermoy Town Councillor, John Murphy, pointed out the dangers of jumping off the bridge in the town, something he’d witnessed young people do as they attempted to cool off amid soaring temperatures.

‘Rueful Barry ponders future post ‘Lapgate’ was the headline on our story the week after FG Deputy Tom Barry landed himself in hot water for pulling his party colleague, Aine Collins, onto his lap during a late night Dail debate on the Government’s controversial abortion bill. The chastened TD said it had been the longest week of his political career, and the most horrendous. He said it had left him pondering whether or not to continue in politics. He stayed.

AUGUST

In a tragic accident, 14-year-old Micheal 'Haulie' Murphy from Killavullen was killed when he fell from a tractor on the Glenville to Killavullen road on August 23.

The OPW gifted Fermoy three months of free parking as a goodwill gesture to make up for the traffic disruption caused by the flood relief works. It subsequently extended the initiative up until Christmas.

Deadly danger was averted by the quick reaction of Toss Bryan's store manager Pat Kent when he spotted a driverless 30-tonne steamroller heading from the site beside the store on the Courthouse Road out onto the N72 where a line of traffic was stopped at the temporary traffic lights as he prepared to lock up the store on a Saturday evening in August.

Meanwhile, on Friday, August 16, Fermoy long-distance swimmer Owen O'Keefe fulfilled a long-held ambition, to be the first person to swim the Blackwater river non-stop from Fermoy to Youghal. He swam the 61 kilometres within his estimated time of 12 hours, having entered the water outside Fermoy Rowing Club's premises just after 7am and going ashore at Nealon's Quay, near Youghal town centre, a couple of minutes after 7pm the same day.

SEPTEMBER

A taste of Buddhism was brought to Mitchelstown when two Thai monks moved to the town and opened up a temple on Upper Cork Street, but hope to raise enough funds in the future to build a temple.

Shanballymore NS started work on their new extension, which will give the staff and students their general purpose hall back, as it was being used as a classroom.

Fianna Fail were first off the starting blocks in the Fermoy Electoral Area for this year’s local elections when they held their selection convention in September. Three candidates were nominated and all three of them made it onto the ticket, newcomer Ian Doyle from Charleville and sitting councillors Kevin O’Keeffe and Frank O’Flynn.

Coolagown emerged the best in county Cork in the national Tidy Towns competition 2013. The village managed to increase its score by five points to 314, putting it just two points behind national winner Moynalty.

The winner of the Lotto Plus 2 draw on Saturday, September 7 in Conna finally come forward, collecting his €250,000 prize at the National Lottery headquarters in Dublin. The identity of the winner was the subject of much speculation but locals were none the wiser as  the man and his wife chose not to reveal their identity. The National Lottery would only say that they are from County Cork.

OCTOBER

In order to restore the link between the Gardai and communities, in light of the closure of some stations, it was announced that there would be Garda clinics in Galbally and Knocklong.

Learning the value of giving to others at a young age, Aoibhe Mullins from Kilbehenny cut off half of her hair and donated it to The Rapunzel Foundation to make wigs for sick children and also held a fun day to raise money for the Drive to Survive Campaign.

The public information day hosted by EirGrid at Corrin Event Centre in Fermoy in October had the largest attendance of any of the company's public consultation sessions, EirGrid engineer Michael Moore told The Avondhu.

As the scale and impact of their GridLink project became known a campaign of opposition grew across the region and communities mobilized to oppose the pylons that would carry the high voltage line, citing health concerns, property devaluation fears and the impact on scenic areas.

As Fine Gael prepared to hold its selection convention for this year's local elections, Fine Gael councillor Pa O'Driscoll finally confirmed speculation that he would not be putting his name forward to seek re-election. The promising young politician will be dropping out after just one term on Cork County Council and an unsuccessful attempt at a Dail seat.

NOVEMBER

An information talk and walk were organised in Mitchelstown to raise awareness about suicide and the supports that are there for people, after the untimely death of local teen Luke Hammond in September.

What was to have been a pleasant outing for Patrick Hanlon and his two young children to Fermoy Town Park in November turned into a horrible experience as he and his three year old daughter ended up covered in human excrement after using a slide.

Those responsible for the vile act were denounced by horrified townspeople and local councillors. Our report of the incident was picked up by the national media.

Mayor Olive Corcoran raised what was to prove a contentious issue at the November meeting of Fermoy Town Council.  She sought answers about their payment of a sum annually since 2004 for water charges to Cork County Council. Attention was drawn to the matter in the 2012 auditor's report.

It was the Mayor's contention that they had no obligation to pay the charge, that some other local authorities didn't pay and that they should be entitled to at least some of the estimated €1.5M back.

Discussion on the matter continued at their December meeting at which time members declared themselves unhappy with the council's written response to the issue, and it was agreed to seek a meeting with the council's finance officials for a full explanation of the charge and their liability for it.

DECEMBER

A tree outside the CBS Secondary school in Mitchelstown, which was planted by Brother O'Brien was lit with 171 bulbs for Christmas in tribute to all of the Brothers who have taught in the school.

Breda and John Moran of Ballyboy House in Clogheen received a presentation from Minister Tom Hayes in recognition of all they have done for forestry and agri tourism.

After years of it being talked about, there was news in December that the old viaduct in Fermoy is to be upgraded and developed as a public amenity, allowing people to access the bridge and enjoy the spectacular views it affords. Avondhu Blackwater Partnership applied to Cork County Council for planning permission for works to the viaduct which is a protected structure.

Two fulachta fiadh or 'burnt mounds' - considered to be Bronze Age cooking pits - were uncovered close to the N72 in Fermoy in December. They were discovered during works to make a new temporary diversion off the N72 on the Courthouse Road as part of the flood relief works.

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