JANUARY
The beginning of a new year was a special one for Ballyhooly GAA as the club opened their new dressing rooms and gymnasium. The official opening was performed by Dr Tom Cavanagh and was blessed by Fr Pat Scanlon.
South Tipp man John O’Gorman from Clogheen, was elected as the new Dairygold chairman replacing James Lynch who had served for the maximum term of three years.
Fr Edmund (Ned) Motherway reached 100 years of age and a celebration was held in Kilworth to celebrate this special milestone.
Planning was sought for a healthcare facility at the Mill Island site in Fermoy and a somewhat controversial application was made for an amusement arcade in Mitchelstown.
There were celebrations for the girls of Loreto as their senior D camogie team won the Munster title.
RTÉ’s Prime Time highlighted the investigation surrounding the disappearance of Fermoy native, Tina Satchwell.
FEBRUARY
A Fermoy man was left in a coma following an altercation at a Fermoy public house.
The Beeches Stud legend Bobby McCarthy from Tallow, received a lifetime achievement award at the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Breeding and Racing Awards.
A Mock Wedding event held at the Firgrove Hotel in Mitchelstown raised €125,000 for The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. The event was filmed by the RTÉ Nationwide team and was broadcast on Valentine’s night on RTE.
A number of dangerous weapons were seized in Glenville when Cork North Divisional Search Team, uniformed gardaí and detectives from Fermoy District carried out searches under warrant in the area.
February was a special month for local swimmers Sean Slattery, Zach Daniels-Howard and Jack Duggan, who received All-Ireland swimming titles while Mitchelstown CBS won the Munster senior B Colleges hurling final.
MARCH
The country prepared for the major snowstorm dubbed the ‘Beast from the East’ which caused a shut down in many places for a number of days.
Mitchelstown boxer Danny Keating, won his professional debut super welterweight fight against Aphichat from Thailand. The fight took place in Sydney, Australia and Danny went on to claim his second pro win on St Patrick’s Day.
Following their Munster final win in January, the Loreto senior camogie team were subsequently crowned All-Ireland champions.
Murphy’s Abbey Pharmacy in Mitchelstown celebrates its 110th year in business and Dr Tom Cavanagh was the grand marshal at the Fermoy St Patrick’s Day Parade.
Towards the close of the month, local gardaí recovered €40,000 in cash from a field at Gortnahown, Mitchelstown.
APRIL
Local councillors sitting on the Fermoy Municipal District Council asked Cork County Council to get legal advice on the possibility of rescinding part three of the Gaming and Lotteries Act in an effort to prevent casinos from gaining a gaming licence within the Fermoy MD district.
Building contractors the Salmon Group, who had the contract for the construction of the extension at Coláiste an Chraoibhín Fermoy, went into examinership and all works were put on hold.
Ballyhooly ICA celebrated their 70th anniversary with the release of a book and a big party in Ballyhooly.
Two men from Mitchelstown were arrested after a garda chase during which they allegedly threw drugs out of their car window. Cocaine valued at €10,000 was recovered at Curraghgorm near Mitchelstown. In a follow-up search on Saturday, detectives found a further €30,000 worth of the drug in a house in the Mitchelstown area.
It was announced that Mitchelstown Sewerage Scheme is now part of the national priority list for Irish Water and works are due to commence in 2019.
A protest organised by ‘Save Fermoy Weir’ group took place to call on Cork County Council and the relevant minister to take action on repairing the weir.
Mitchelstown officially launched their Age Friendly Programme and Cork County Council granted permission for an amusement arcade to be developed in Mitchelstown at the former Weavers Bar on 45 Lower Cork Street.
MAY
After six years of campaigning for a traffic warden at Bunscoil na Toirbhirte, the post was eventually filled by popular local man, Tony Fitzgerald.
An investigation took place when images showing a man dressed as a priest engaging in sexual activity with another man on the altar of St Bartholomew’s Church Kildorrery emerged.
The new Gaelscoil de híde was officially opened in Fermoy. A pharmacist who was living in Ballyhooly and who operated from a premises under her proprietorship at Cork Road, Fermoy was struck off for claiming €33,000 from the HSE through false pretences.
Coláiste an Chraoibhín student Sarah Murphy won the overall title in the Central Bank’s 75th anniversary student art competition.
Bailey O’Rourke Lane from Ballylanders won a gold medal in the Young Economist of the Year.
The 6th year students at Loreto Secondary School and their parents were upset by a homily made at their graduation Mass in Fermoy where the priest discussed the 8th amendment, despite being asked to refrain from bringing up the topic at the Mass.
Gill McGirr and Ellie O’Reilly won the championship pair A final of the British National Schools’ Regatta.
JUNE
The town of Mitchelstown was left in shock following the death of Patrick O’Donnell of Stag Park Mitchelstown following an attack at a public house in the town. Michael Dineen of Ard Mhuilinn was charged with the murder of Mr O’Donnell.
A major landslide occurred at Mocollop in Ballyduff, blocking off the R666 for some time.
Cork ETB began the re-tendering process for the completion of the extension at Coláiste an Chraoibhín.
There was lots of excitement locally when Prince Charles and Camilla stayed at Ballyvolane House during their visit to Ireland.
Mary Toomey lost her life following a fatal accident on the Mitchelstown to Cahir road at Kilcoran, Co Tipperary. Ms Toomey was killed instantly after she was hit by a car while out walking with her young niece. The child was uninjured.
There were considerable delays in the commencement of the water works at Castlecooke in Kilworth.
There was much disquiet and objections from residents in Beechfield Estate, Fermoy over a caravan and mobile home parked on the green of the estate. This came to a head when the mobile home was moved in. Residents blocked the lorry ferrying the mobile home from leaving the area. Following the serving of a court order, the mobile home was moved by the family before it could be impounded by Cork County Council and was relocated to the roadside by the new Kilcrumper Graveyard.
Friendships were renewed when a successful reunion of the employees of Cadena Ireland cigar factory was held at the Big Tree in Aghern.
Temperatures were at an all time high in June 2018 as a heatwave swept the nation. This meant that water levels were at an all time low and, in Ballyhooly, and a tanker had to be brought into the village to supply locals needs.
Plans to upgrade the former Military Barracks and FCA Hall in Mitchelstown were suspended indefinitely.
JULY
A serious fire broke out in Anglesboro and the Air Corps had to be called in to assist.
There were serious concerns over the water supply in Gortnaskehy, Araglin and a water tanker had to be brought in to supply locals.
An Bord Pleanala decided to uphold Cork County Council’s decision to refuse permission for an arcade at Corrin Court in Fermoy.
A fire in Ballylanders caused devastation to a number of businesses.
Cllr June Murphy was elected chairperson of Fermoy Municipal District.
Ellie O’Reilly and Gill McGirr won the women’s junior pair at the Irish Rowing Championship.
Kotryna Pacerinskaite from Fanahan McSweeney Athletics Club won three gold medals for U14 category in the shot putt at the National Finals.
And staying with sport, Selma Bounane from Fermoy had an outstanding weekend at the Home Internationals Regatta in Inniscarra having been crowned the overall winner of the Women’s Single Sculls.
AUGUST
The 15-strong staff syndicate at Herlihy’s Centra, Fermoy won €117,790 in the National Lottery.
Record numbers attended Indiependence music festival in Mitchelstown.
A hugely successful tribute night in honour of the late Frank Morgan was held in The Palace Theatre, Fermoy.
Mitchelstown Leisure Centre announced plans for expansion.
Galbally show pride for its native John Kiely, Limerick senior hurling boss as they welcomed home the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Fifteen year old Aisling Creed from Fermoy climbed Kilimanjaro with Kilimanjaro Achievers.
Ballyhooly residents expressed concern over plans for an anaerobic digestion treatment plant in the area.
Mitchelstown golfers were crowned Munster junior champions.
SEPTEMBER
Full service resumed at Fermoy Community Hospital as a new medical officer was appointed.
Ballygiblin were crowned NCJA hurling champions.
A fire safety concern at the Palace Theatre Fermoy, was remedied without delay.
James Deane from Castletownroche claimed the Drift Masters European Championship
Sarah Morrison from Castlelyons and Sean Slattery from Fermoy bring home gold from the European Junior Surf-Lifesaving Championships.
Cork County Council decided to erect a special memorial in Mitchelstown to honour the late Mick Meaney.
The FAI pledged their support for ongoing developments at Kilworth Celtic Development.
OCTOBER
The McDonagh family, who were living in a mobile home parked in a picnic area on the Cork Road in Fermoy, were issued an eviction notice but John McDonagh said that and his family will stay where they are until the council put a long-term roof over their heads.
Major refurbishment works for the Fermoy Community Hospital were announced.
Bride Rovers honoured their heroes of 1968/’69.
Seven year-old Noah Myers from Mitchelstown was named the ‘Social Media Star’ at the The Woman’s Way & Pharmaton Children’s Awards. Noah, a full-time wheelchair user, was born with Escobar Syndrome; her blog was started to show that a physical disability doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy life.
Mitchelstown was awarded €165,000 to develop age friendly features.
It was announced that Rathcormac nature reserve is due to open next spring 2019.
Sean Kyne TD, Minister of State for Natural Resources, visited Fermoy to see for himself the problems associated with the weir and to listen to the concerns of local representatives and stakeholders.
Fermoy was announced as the Cleanest Town in Ireland following first round IBAL results.
Drugs worth €130k were seized from a farm in Kilworth. A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene and brought to Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick.
Phase 1 of a €10 million world class development at Moorepark Technology Ltd (MTL) was completed. The entire project is due to be completed by September 2019.
Fermoy claimed the Cork premier intermediate football title while Imokilly retained the Cork championship crown.
Ballyporeen Karate Club claimed the title of ‘national club of the year’.
The creamery in Araglin closed its doors after almost 100 years of service.
NOVEMBER
The sod was turned on the RESPOND! social housing development on Duntahane Road Fermoy.
Fermoy native Pat O’Flynn, signed a multi-million euro distribution deal with Chinese pharmaceutical firm Fosun Pharmaceuticals, on behalf of his company, Solvotrin Therapeutics.
Araglin-born jockey Johnny Allen, crossed the line in style on Extra Brut to win the 2018 AAMI Victoria Derby at the Melbourne Cup to claim the biggest win of his career to date.
There was a €1 million increase announced for the 2019 budget for Fermoy Municipal District.
Mellerick’s Pharmacy Fermoy won Pharmacy of the Year from Retail Excellence Ireland for the third year in a row.
Many were sad to say goodbye to Fitzgibbon’s Bar in Glanworth which closed it’s doors in November.
Cork County Council granted permission for a healthcare facility at Mill Island.
Bats delay the construction of the Kildorrery reservoir.
The Post Office in Mitchelstown moved from its location on Upper Cork Street to a new unit at Farrell’s SuperValu when postmistress Stephanie Dunne retired at the end of November.
A project to inject large volumes of renewable gas (a direct substitute for natural gas) onto the natural gas network, is to be located in Mitchelstown.
DECEMBER
St Colman’s College released a charity single ‘Lean on Me’ which reached number 1 on the Irish iTunes chart and number 17 on the official Irish charts.
Delegates from China visited Conna Social Centre, Living Health Mitchelstown and Fermoy Resource Centre.
Mitchelstown Tennis Club and Mitchelstown Community Centre were announced as the beneficiaries of a shared funding allocation of almost €433,000 which has been made available through the LEADER programme operated by the Department of Community and Rural Development.
A 24 hour McDonald’s opened at Junction 14 in Fermoy
In planning news, an objection was lodged to An Bord Pleanala in relation to the healthcare facility at Mill Island; permission was granted for an amusement arcade at the former Weavers premises in Mitchelstown and An Bord Pleanala ruled that the diameter of the blades on the turbines at Barnafaddock Windfarm in Ballyduff are not within the permission conditions granted.
