The good people of Watergrasshill shedded pounds to gain pounds in a highly successful ‘Slim-In’ competition organised in aid of Marymount Hospice, Cork. In total £5,076 was raised by the 43 competitors who undertook to lose weight for the most worthy of causes. Local man PJ O’Leary raised over £700, the single biggest sum raised by any of the competitors. Chas King, who described himself as being ‘very muscular’, was adjudged to have lost the most weight.
Sammy on ‘Le Tour’
Mitchelstown Credit Union ran a special competition for all Sammy Stamp savers in the local national schools. Taking its theme from the Tour de France, this special Sammy on ‘Le Tour’ was an art/slogan competition.
There were five fabulous bikes and safety helmets to be won and the winners were: Paul Halligan, 6th Class, Knocklong NS; Denise Coffey, 2nd Class, Graigue NS; Allan Mee, 4th Class, St Joseph’s NS, Ballyorgan; Rhona O’Donovan, 1st Class, Curraghagalla NS and Miriam Condon, Senior Infants, Glenahulla NS.
Ballylanders Retirement
Various clubs and organisations from Ballylanders joined together to mark the retirement of local school principal Michael Russell who had taught in Ballylanders since 1974. In recognition of his contribution to the parish, he was presented with an ornate lamp by fellow teacher Maureen Dineen, while his wife, Helen, received a bouquet of flowers from Eleanor O’Dowd, board of management.
Michael was born in 1935 in Lattin, County Tipperary. At the age of 19 he entered St Patrick’s Teacher Training College in Drumcondra, Dublin, where he spent three years from 1954 until 1956. On graduating, he was assigned to Bunglash National School, a small village in County Kerry, before moving to Ballintubber and from there, to Glenroe National School, where he stayed from 1963 until 1974.
He arrived in Ballylanders in 1974, where he was to conclude a teaching career which spanned 42 years.
Ballynoe housing
Cork County Council agreed to pay Watergrasshill-based contractor, Danny O’Farrell £53,498.61 for the erection of two houses in Ballynoe. The final sum was paid over on the recommendation of the county architect. The tender of Henry Metcalfe, Copstown, Mallow was accepted for the construction of four houses at Barry’s Boreen, Fermoy. The value of the tender was £228,000.
Mitchelstown SVP
Mitchelstown St Vincent de Paul received £35,000 as part of an overall nationwide package of £4 million under the Voluntary Housing Capital Assistance Scheme, which nationally would provide 236 units of accommodation for renting to disadvantaged groups such as the elderly, the homeless and the disabled. The grant for Mitchelstown St Vincent de Paul would help to provide one unit for two persons.
Sporting
Glenville GAA Club realised one of their most cherished ambitions when after 90 minutes of pulsating football, they finally captured the East Cork Divisional U21 A grade football championship title for the inaugural occasion when they had three points to spare (1-10 to 0-10) over a gallant Castlelyons side at Rathcormac.
In a very even first half, Glenville got a great boost when a late penalty expertly converted by centre forward Ian Gardiner gave them an interval lead of 1-3 to 0-3. A spirited second-half comeback, spearheaded by Barry O’Connell, saw Castlelyons draw level and force the game to extra-time 0-8 to 1-05.
However, Glenville were not to be denied and finished the stronger with three late points from Paudie Cahill, Willie O’Leary and Ian Gardiner, to the delight of the supporters dressed in the black and amber colours.
The Fermoy and District Anglers Association hosted the Albert Cup on the occasion of the 21 year anniversary of the event. Having completed the onerous task of the weigh in, a winner was eventually declared in the person of Mr Liam Martin from Castlelyons Trout Anglers’ Association.
Mr Albert McGonagle, the donor of the cup in the presence of the president of the association, Mr John Heffernan, presented the wonderful cup and his special prize for the 21st anniversary to Liam. In fact, Liam also returned the heaviest trout on the night.
Some 64 anglers travelled to the destination of their choice on the river Blackwater from Ballyhooly bridge to Ballyduff, County Waterford.
