A 19-year-old woman was in a serious condition in May 1996, following a hit and run incident at Grange Road, on the Ballylanders to Knocklong Road. The vehicle involved in the early morning incident at 1.30am failed to stop and the victim was discovered by her father ‘soon afterwards’ on the road, from where she was transferred to the intensive care unit at Limerick Regional Hospital. Gardai in Bruff were seeking the assistance of the public.
It was officially announced that the August bank holiday festival in Mitchelstown was to be known as the ‘Carling Mitchelstown Music Festival’ – a spokesperson told The Avondhu the weekend would be ‘dominated by some of Ireland’s top acts’. Boyzone headlined the 1995 event.
A novel fundraiser got under way in The Avondhu area, organised by the Parents and Friends of Children with Special Needs. The ‘slim for charity’ event saw in excess of 70 individuals sign up at two official weigh-in centres in the Clongibbon House, Mitchelstown and the Resource Centre, Fermoy. One ‘notable late entry’ was Glanworth publican Billy McAuliffe who was looking to ‘do everything in his power to ensure the shedding of those pounds’. On entering, Billy was ‘almost immediately challenged’ by Pa Dalton from Killemera, who vowed to lose more weight than the Glanworth man. Funds raised would go towards the running of a summer camp and the official weigh-out ceremony would take place in mid June that year.
The centenary of the opening of the Ranges at Lynch Camp, Kilworth was celebrated in May 1996 in bright sunshine. Members of the public availed of the open day to visit the camp and were treated to ‘a most interesting programme of events, including historical displays, exhibitions of military memorabilia and a tour of the camp itself’. Pat O’Connor, local historian, gave an ‘illustrated talk’, with contributions also from Christy Roche, Michael Dunne and retired Col Michael Gill. Sergeant Pat Nash gave a guided tour of the camp, while the occasion was marked with the unveiling of a plaque and the planting of an oak tree by GOC of the Southern Command, Brigadier General Farrell.
The official launch of the Fermoy Business Premises Awards took place in May 1996, aimed at continuing the improvements of the streetscape of the town, as well as brightening up the town generally. Run by the Fermoy Chamber of Commerce, the awards were last held in 1993.
Two local lads were making the sporting headlines, as members of the successful Munster Senior League side to capture the FAI Inter League Youth All-Ireland title. Elton Pierce, Kilworth and Derek Slattery, Fermoy, both members of the Glasheen club in Cork, featured for the Munster side versus finalists from the Leinster Junior League. Derek played in goal, while Elton having been introduced as a substitute, scored the winner in extra time, the game having finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, thus bringing the cup back to Munster for the very first time.
Paul McGrath was in town – the international soccer star was the invited guest to the Fermoy Area Awards in 1996, presenting a range of community awards in The Grand Hotel. Reported to have ‘mingled very well with the capacity crowd’ and obliging by posing for photographs and signing autographs, he did however not address the gathering on the night. MC for the occasion was Joe Slattery – award recipients were previously noted in this column.
With the 1996 FA Cup final featuring Manchester United and Liverpool, ‘Ooh ahh’ Paul McGrath took in the big occasion in both Feach Amachs, Fermoy (first half) and The Sportsman’s Inn (second half) the Saturday following the Fermoy Area Awards. A memorable day, as Eric Cantona lifted the cup for United!
Glenville intermediate footballers suffered a heartbreaking championship exit in May 1996, going down to St Finbarrs by the narrowest of margins, 0-9 to 1-5. Adrian Casey gave Glenville a dream start, raising a green flag, to see them lead at half-time 1-4 to 0-6, however a low scoring second half saw the Barrs gain the upper hand to advance by a single point margin. Glenville team: E Fitzgerald, J Fenton (captain), D O’Reilly, P O’Neill, WJ Manley, J Buttimer, D O’Leary (0-1), J O’Keeffe (0-1), D Ryan, R Cahill (0-1), M O’Keeffe, F Halbert, A Casey (1-0), B Kearney (0-1), JJ Kearney (0-1). Subs: J O’Sullivan, S Hegarty.
