The general public in Ballylanders were understandably ‘outraged’ following a wanton act of vandalism, which saw a substantial amount of damage to the village’s community park facility. Locals believed that the vandalism took place under the cover of darkness, resulting in pitch & putt hole flags being bent, a spectator bench being uprooted and smashed, while goalposts were similarly uprooted from their concrete bases. Speaking to The Avondhu, one local believed the culprits were ‘not young people’, as he demonstrated the difficulty he had in bending the pitch & putt hole flags across his knee, ‘admitting failure after a few hearty tugs’. Equally, the uprooted goalposts, along with their concrete bases were ‘discarded into a nearby glen, smashed on the ground’. Feelings were ‘running high’ locally, with gardai believing the acts to be premeditated, as ‘oil and a sledgehammer were used at the scene’.
‘New Age Travellers locked in at Ballyhooly’ – a front page headline from June 1995, as Coillte were taking moves to remove a traveller encampment from its property, located in the Gurteen area of Ballyhooly, on the back road to Fermoy. They were reported as being ‘mostly of English and Scottish origin’. A steel barrier was erected across the entrance to the wood, causing major inconvenience to the group who were unable to exit the property by vehicle. We all awaited the outcome.
A 4-man delegation, representative of the Doneraile Traders’ Association, met with Minister for State at the Department of Finance, Hugh Coveney, outlining their fears regarding a proposal by Musgraves to build a new supermarket in the town. The delegation were ‘happy enough… that they were being listened to by high ranking people’. The association were awaiting the imminent result of the planning application before deciding on their next course of action.
It was reported that Maura English, mother of Tipperary hurling legend Nicky English, was set to retire from her teaching post at Galbally National School following the 1994-1995 school term. The news was greeted with regret by local parents, with several contacting The Avondhu to highlight their admiration for her teaching skills and noted the impending ‘huge loss to the school’. Incidentally, our roving reported was informed that her ‘scoring machine and All Star’ son Nicky, was a pupil at Galbally ‘for a period of time and was also Confirmed down the road in Ballylanders’.
A giant-sized soup pot placed in the grounds of St Theresa’s Hospital, Clogheen was a stark reminder of Famine times in the area. At a press reception held in the grounds, the Friends’ of St Theresa’s announced details of a special commemoration day to take place on June 25th 1995, to remember all those who died under such terrible circumstances in the area. The programme would include Mass, followed by a pageant (directed by school principal Pat O’Malley), a barbecue, song and dance. The pot, originally located in the old workhouse in the hospital grounds, lay undiscovered for over half a century on the farmlands of Eamonn English, Carrigmore, who kindly returned it to the hospital. A book on the history of the area during these times, entitled ‘Famine in the Valley’, penned by Ed O’Riordan, was also being launched to coincide with events.
In brief – Gardai were anxious to talk with anyone who could shed light on the deliberate overturning of a post office van which was parked overnight in the south Limerick village of Glenbrohane; it had ‘sustained damage to one side before it was rocked back again’. It was ‘likely’ that Fermoy Councillor Aileen Pyne would be elected as the next chairman of Cork County Council, to succeed incumbent, Labour’s Paula Desmond – described as a ‘front runner for the top spot in county Cork’, the rotation of the position of chair between the respective division areas pointed to such an outcome. Carraig na bhFear Macra na Feirme accomplished their ‘ultimate aim’ for 1995, when securing the ‘National artistry in the Home’ title in Ballybay, Co Monaghan – the team consisted of Maire Spillane, Amy Burke, Ursula Hegarty, John O’Sullivan and Sean Spillane. Young Holly McGrath from Ballinvarrig, Castlelyons won the county prize in a competition run by the Prize Bond company, who were seeking a new illustration for their gift card – her prize consisted of £50 of Prize Bonds and a design certificate. She now proceeded to the final round of judging to select a national winner.
