‘Sacrilege, nudes and too much drinking’ – some over-exuberant celebration perhaps following a weekend at the Kilworth festival. Locals expressed concern at an act of sacrilege, with apparent ‘satanic slogans daubed on the Legion of Mary hut in the church grounds’ as well as on a nearby religious statue. A couple of other incidents were dealt with by gardai, with excessive noise amongst the complaints. However, the boys in blue ‘missed a real eyeful’, with eyewitness reports of a naked male and female ‘cavorting close to the village centre’. One local summed it up by saying ‘things are getting worse by the day’.
Members of the public were to be allowed attend Fermoy UDC meetings, following majority approval for a motion from Cllr John Hussey. Stating that such openness already existed at Dail and County Council level, he could not see why it could not be the same for the local UDC. A decision on numbers attending had to be investigated.
Members of the Mitchelstown Brass Band were hoping to literally climb into the Guinness Book of Records. Looking to give a recital on the mountain top of Galteemore with their instruments in hand, Fred Buxton from the Guinness Book of Records had informed the group that their feat could see them eligible for entry under a new category.
The wheels were set in motion for a major fundraising project in Ballylanders, with locals being encouraged to dig deep to help support the funding of a special centre which would act as a hostel and day care centre for the young handicapped people of the area. Those in the area were faced with having to travel to Charleville for rehabilitation/education activities – however approximately £100,000 would have to be raised locally for the ambitious project. One of the main fundraising efforts was unveiled – a marathon 700 mile return trek to Malin Head in a restored 1954 Ferguson 20 TVO, lovingly restored by Pat Irwin from Knockadea and Dave McCarthy, Ballylanders, who would undertake the journey.
The proposed Community Leisure Project for Mitchelstown was given a very important vote of support from an enthusiastic crowd, at a public meeting in June 1995, held in The Firgrove Hotel. The meeting, chaired by Frank Mullally, was informed that the project was advancing ‘because a clear mandate was given by the people of the area in a special survey…. which showed an overwhelming need’ for the development. Their target area boasted an estimated 22,000 population. Phase one would see the building of the main leisure complex, incorporating a 20 metre swimming pool, along with a car park capable of holding 200 cars. The estimated cost was £1.5m. Three phases were envisaged, which would be totally dependent on funding, support and the goodwill of the local people.
The village of Conna turned out in force at a special function to pay tribute to national school principal and teacher, John Gough, who was retiring. Becoming principal of the local school in 1974, taking over the job from his father-in-law Jim Cashman, John’s teaching career spanned over 40 years, beginning in Ballyheaphy, in the parish of Ballyduff, Co Waterford.
The fight was on for the title of King/Queen of the Harbour in Glanworth, to see who would succeed reigning Queen Mary Mahon. The candidates putting themselves forward were Valerie Hughes (Flynn’s Bar), Pat O’Sullivan (Mac’s), Deirdre Quinlan (Harbour Bar), Viv O’Donnell (O’Donnell’s) and Johnny Whelan (Fitzgibbon’s).
Castle Celtic claimed the AUL County Cup, defeating a gallant Blarney United at Turner’s Cross 2-0. With the whole team playing well as a unit, hero of the match was 2-goal hero Richard O’Regan – Brian Barry captained the side.
In brief – Dublin super group Aslan were the headline act for the Conna Castle Concert in June 1995, with large crowds expected – other acts headlining were 4th Dimension, Blink and Dogabone. Upwards of 80 people from the Kildorrery Anti-Dump Group, assembled at the Clock House in Mallow to walk the mile towards the Northern Committee’s headquarters, to highlight their grievances and fears of pollution threats at the site. A commemorative plaque was blessed at the annual June Mass celebrations held at St Fanahan’s Well, Mitchelstown, to honour the commitment of the late Michael Donegan towards the maintenance of the Well – Canon Tim O’Leary and Fr Coleman officiated.
