Some traders in Fermoy were up in arms following traffic disruptions resulting from works being carried out on the main street by the ESB. Such was their anger, that they sent a letter of ‘Congratulations’ to the town’s ESB office, reading: ‘Congratulations to the ESB on rooting up the high street, creating a terrible mess and occupying the space of 12 cars at Christmas time – well done!’. When contacted by The Avondhu, Colm Murphy, manager ESB Fermoy, said the works were necessary, in order to avoid a repeat of the power cut of the previous year, which resulted from ‘pressure on the transformer at Connolly Street’. Criticism was also aimed at the UDC, who according to one trader ‘did not seem to know what was going on’, as well as on the gardai, for not having a strong enough presence to keep traffic moving. However, Mr Murphy, while saying he was ‘naturally sorry’ about the inconvenience, didn’t agree with the claimed loss of 12 spaces, saying the figure was “nearer to 6 or 7”.

Glanworth Macra were on a ‘winning streak’ – Emer Howard had won the county fodder beet competition; while under the ‘watchful eye’ of John Gallagher, the novelty act team of Tom and John McGrath, Kevin Carey, Sean Bradley, Mary Hickey, Sean O’Flynn, Lorraine Cotter and Mary Hanrahan advanced to the county final. We’re told the night was ‘mighty craic’, with the club ‘putting the party in full swing’!

Gardai were making a very nice seasonal gesture in December 1993, helping out at community parties as part of a new programme of voluntary aid. The community of Castlelyons were seeing the benefit at their annual senior citizens Christmas party, with a large garda van ‘employed to ferry people to the annual party’. Inspector Kieran McGann had managed to procure the use of the vehicle, which was booked several months in advance, while Fermoy based Garda Michael O’Donovan, was chauffeur of the ‘taxi’ service. Welcomed by all concerned, the only downside was that due to ‘the nature of the exercise and the wide area of the division, booking would have to be made well in advance’.

It was reported that special guest at the Fermoy Traders Awards, Irish international soccer manager Jack Charlton, had the capacity audience ‘eating out of his hand’, such was his off-the cuff address, being well able to tell a good yarn! Promising that the Irish team would do their best at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, he took the audience on a hilarious journey through his association with Irish soccer. Telling of his connections in Ballina, he included a yarn on ‘the strange way in which he got the opportunity to give ‘Dunphy’ (in the form of a goose), a ‘good boot up the arse’, while participating in a ‘goose race’ in the Mayo town’. I’m sure some would agree!

In brief – Gardai were warning the public to be on the alert following a spate of robberies in Mitchelstown, with 4 separate break-ins occurring in the space of 3 days - substantial amounts of cash and jewellery were stolen from dwellings located at James Street, Kildorrery Road and two at Ballinwillin. Due to the ‘substandard condition’ of Cappoquin Court, Judge Michael Pattwell refused to sit, saying that he would ‘turn up and then adjourn all cases to a special court in Cashel’; the basic improvements he’d requested in October 1993 still hadn’t been carried out. A public meeting in Kilworth, held regarding the threatened closure of the Mill Hill road, saw ‘a strong response from the floor’ with the message being given loud and clear that the people of the locality did not want the road closed; the matter was being referred to the next Northern Roads meeting for further discussion.

In sport – Bride Rovers ended their season with some ‘seaside success’, capturing their first ever junior B hurling title, defeating Aghada 2-15 to 2-05 in Rostellan. Kilworth junior hurlers won their 3rd North Cork league title in 4 years, defeating Shanballymore by a single point in Castletownroche, 0-9 to 0-8. At a cost estimated at over £8,000, Fermoy Pitch & Putt Club were considering the installation of an automatic sprinkler system.

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