A review of the Tidy Towns marking from 1992 shows an improvement for many of the area’s towns and villages. In Category E, both Fermoy and Mitchelstown had improved by 3 marks on 1991 – Mitchelstown being placed 2nd on 176, behind category winners Midleton (181), while Fermoy moved to 3rd on 164. Galbally claimed the overall title for County Limerick, on 190 marks. Castletownroche came top of the pile in the 12-village category B within County Cork, on 182 points. Ballylanders scored 127 points, while Castlelyons on 169 pipped neighbouring Bridesbridge on 164. Conna had secured joint 3rd in the category A county section in Cork on 175, just 2 marks ahead of Kilworth. Ballyhooly secured 155 points, Doneraile 140 with the South Tipperary village of Ballyporeen being placed 5th in its category on 179.

The Fermoy tug-of-war team were medal winners at Mosney, securing silver in the World championship finals behind St Patrick’s from England. With 39 teams competing, the first pull of the final took 6 and a half minutes, while the second pull took 3 and a half minutes. Team members were: Willie Kelleher, Ned Rice, Tadhg Donovan, Pat Lee, Pat Noonan, Tom Rice (all Fermoy) and Billy Kent and Finbar Walsh (Carrigaline). Paddy Boyce was coach with Liam O’Flynn as trainer. The team were to be honoured at a victory parade in the town, organised by the Munster Tug-of-War Association and Cork County Tug-of-War Board.

The luck of the Irish had shone on Fermoy lady, Patricia O’Neill, whose scratch card was pulled from the draw drum to appear on the TV Lottery show. From Wolfe Tone Park, she had purchased the scratch card eight months previously in Hanley’s Newsagents in the town. With a minimum win of £2,000 guaranteed, Patricia only realised she was a winner when she saw her name in the Saturday paper (no internet/smartphones then), telling The Avondhu “If I win a few bob I’d like to spend it on the house, but then again I might break out and take a holiday of a lifetime!”

Dog fouling was in the headlines, with Mitchelstown residents complaining on the state of the streets, with George’s Street and the area adjacent to the greyhound schooling track on the Kildorrery Road particularly badly effected. One resident, who laid the blame squarely on the shoulders of irresponsible owners, said his locality had become a very popular ‘walk and dog toilet area’. It was suggested that ‘pooper scoopers’ be used – sounds all too familiar.

A browse through the ‘For Sale’ column in the Classifieds section saw a variety of items on offer: 2 fat pigs; designer wedding gown, costing £500, selling for £95; a Hornett Rifle with sights, as new; Second hand secretarial books; a Hotpoint washing machine – in need of repair; 1980 Escort, good condition & PMO £250 ONO; A fibreglass bath with side and rear panels.

A quick review of other headlines from September 1992, show: Ballyhoura Development Company were looked at plans to develop Griston Bog, Ballylanders as a tourist attraction; ‘Operation timber’ saw Fermoy UDC and contractors move to fell three dangerous beech trees in the local town park, due to rot; Kildorrery farmer, Thomas Dunne from Middle Graigue, won a special merit award in the Farm Start Awards, for his endeavours which had done his village proud.

Araglin and Ballyhooly locked horns in the final of the North Cork junior B hurling final, played before a large crowd in Ballygiblin. According to the Araglin GAA notes at the time, they fielded a largely ‘youthful’ team against a fancied Ballyhooly outfit. A TJ Shanahan goal had Araglin well in the game at half-time, with Ballyhooly leading 1-4 to 1-3 at the interval. In a tight second half, with defences largely on top, the sides were level on three occasions and it was Ballyhooly who needed an equalising point inside injury time to force a replay. Araglin team: Tony Hyland, Mick Kearney, Sean Doherty, Jim Kenneally, Denis Twomey, Tony White (capt), John Lynch, Sean Hyland, John O’Brien, Tim Keane, Paul Colbert, Con Leddy, Pat Buckley, TJ Shanahan, Brendan Carey.

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