Two area representative from Cork Multi-channel (MDS) were to undertake a fundraising campaign on behalf of 5 year old Ballyporeen boy, Jamie McCarthy. The plight of young Jamie, who suffered from spina biffida and who was in need of a motorised wheelchair, struck Tom Long and Colin Hooton when they were in Glanworth, having met with Jamie’s uncle, Michael Pierce. A number of fundraising initiatives were already in place, including a card drive and a fundraising dance for December 1993. They hoped to raise at least half the cost, with the motorised wheelchair set to cost £2,600.

Rathcormac man, Greg Murphy became a ‘champion’, joining the popular band Gina & The Champions and clocking up the miles, touring on the road playing gigs. Son of Tim and Kay Murphy from Glanworth, Greg showed musical talent at an early age, with his mother telling The Avondhu that he used to ‘mimic their (drums) sound with two sticks and a bowl’ at the tender age of three! He went on to become a member of the Cork City Pipe Band, as well locally with the Fermoy Confraternity Band and Thomas Kent Pipe Band, playing with country band White City Sound and being drummer part-time with Lightning Strikes.

Plans were well advanced for Fermoy town’s first salmon festival, which was scheduled to take place in May 1994. Avondhu Tourism Association were the event organisers and were determined to ensure that adjoining villages would benefit from the spin-off generated. A busy and varied line-up to the proposed weekend festival was planned, to include a country pursuits and sporting fair, music, stalls as well as a family day to close the festival.

The local entertainment scene was kicking into full swing ahead of Christmas. Coughlan’s Bar, formerly Mulcahy’s, located on Lower Cork Street, Mitchelstown had re-opened, under the charge of Michael and Chris Coughlan - their December 1993 entertainment included musicians Noel McLoughlin, The Boatmen, Honesty, Dave Mulcahy and Eamon Wall. While Talk of the South, Fermoy were set to host the Booley House, The Irish Weavers and Don Baker. Galbally GAA were hosting a cabaret/dance, with Trudy Lalor and the Louise Morrissey Band on stage in The Glen Hotel, Aherlow. John Geary was entertaining at The Mountain Barracks; O’Regan’s Pub, Fermoy had Shanghai for turkeys and music by The Fab Cruiser; with Fouhy’s Bar, Glanworth hosting a first anniversary bash, with Banjo Jim entertaining.

Major renovations were under way at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rathcormac, with the parish’s other church, located in Bartlemy, also set for improvement works. A committee, formed in July 1992, had been busy fundraising, with works on both churches estimated at £440,000. Phase 1 at Rathcormac, which was built in 1816, would involve external plaster repairs, repointing and sealing of stone work, replacing louvers to the tower, the provision and erection of porches and other internal plaster repairs. Work was undertaken by O’Shea’s of Cork. While work on the church in Bartlemy, built approx 1830s, was to include the building of a new block containing a sacristy, an altar boys room, boiler house, new lobby, toilet and reconciliation room.

Five members of the IMPACT Trade Union, who were employees at the Dairygold owned Galtee Meats Plant at Cahir Hill, Mitchelstown, were on the picket line, which according to a spokesperson for the union, was over ‘a dispute involving supervision levels’. The dispute went back to April that year, when the Department insisted on what they claimed was their right ‘to fully review all overtime rosters and staffing arrangements which concern the inspectors’. It was expected the dispute would become nationwide within a week, with pickets also already in place at Charleville, as well as at Rathdowney Meats.

In briefs - As part of the annual Garda awards, both Sgt Dan Noonan, Kilworth and Garda Noel O’Leary, Ballynoe were to receive awards from the Cork Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in recognition for acts of kindness and bravery where animals were involved. The first phase of a new scheme allowing financial assistance for the provision of caretaking services, saw Loreto Convent, Fermoy awarded the maximum grant of £8,750. Colaiste an Chraoibhin, Fermoy claimed the Munster U16 Vocational Schools' Championship in a one-sided final, defeating Cahir Vocational School 10-11 to 0-0.

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