Castlelyons musician Jimmy Morrison and his musical partner, Ciaran Galvin, from Ring in county Waterford, had secured what many might see as the dream gig. The talented duo were set to promote Guinness in both China and Hong Kong, having been approached by the illustrious company to undertake a 6 month tour of the Far East. In huge demand since forming a little over 12 months previous, they were due to depart at the end of July 1994, to be headquartered in Hong Kong’s Delaney’s Irish Bar. However, locals would have a chance to see them at an official send off in the Castle Tavern, Ballyhooly or at the Mitchelstown International Deer Festival, where they were supporting Frances Black.

Local community television was set to return to the airwaves. This followed a High Court decision, where Southcoast Community Television brought an appeal against an injunction granted to Cork Communications Ltd, restraining Southcoast from transmitting signals from their Ballyhooly transmitter - the appeal was upheld by Justice Lynch. While there was further good news for Southcoast in the same week, when an injunction was also lifted by Justice Costelloe against transmissions from their Kinsale transmitter. Spokesperson for Southcoast, John Miller, told The Avondhu that they could now operate their ‘total network under the protection of the courts, without fear of hindrance by either Cork Communications Ltd or the Minister for Communications’. However, with the legal process having cost Southcoast in excess of £60,000, the collection of subscriptions and general fundraising needed major support to sustain their service.

Gardai were investigating a number of incidents where one or more individuals were attempting to pass themselves off as members of the force in the locality. Reported cases in both Mallow and Castletownroche, was followed by an incident on Main Street, Glanworth, where a female senior citizen became suspicious of a caller to her house purporting to be from the gardai. While the man appeared to be dressed as a garda (though shoulder straps were missing from his tunic), his ‘pushy attitude’ aroused her suspicions and she became upset. While the man in question left without gaining entry, gardai in both Fermoy and Kildorrery were investigating. Impersonating a member of the force carried a sentence of 6 months.

Shoulder pads were at the ready in Kilworth, as the local festival was due to stage an American football challenge, which was causing somewhat of a stir in the area. The 1993 Irish champions, Dublin Tornados would take on ‘the rest of Ireland’ - a combination team from Belfast, Galway, Limerick and Ardee. Some 30 plus footballers were due to descend on the village for this hard-hitting encounter. The game, which established in Ireland around 1986, had 8 teams nationwide participating annually for the Emerald Bowl.

Lismore residents were somewhat surprised to see the Duchess of York in town. A keen horsewoman, it was reported that she was competing in the annual gymkhana being held in the Castle Park. The event was a qualifier for the renowned Millstreet show. She completed two successful rounds on a Robert Splaine horse.

A ‘Garda Report’ in July 1994 showed: A car in Connolly Street, Fermoy had a concrete block smashed through the windscreen; 400gls of diesel were stolen from a tank in Glenarouske - gardai were looking to ‘stop this thief’s cheap travel’; A sun roof for a Mercedes tractor was found in the Kilworth area; While an O’Neill’s full-face red hurling helmet was lost in Pearse Square, Fermoy, with the autograph of Sean O’Gorman inside.

A disappointing performance by Kildorrery junior A hurlers in the North Cork championship, saw them suffer a heavy defeat to Fermoy at the quarter-final stage, on a scoreline of 1-5 to 5-16. In ideal conditions in Kilworth, Kildorrery started with ‘a big minus factor’ - the long serving full back Denis Fitzgerald, who had not previously missed a championship game in his 19 year career, was hospitalised that week due to a foot infection. Other notable absentees were Richard Hurley (honeymoon), Pat Murphy and Sean Keating. A free-scoring Fermoy led 3-6 to 0-2 at half-time, running out easy victors in the end.

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