Gardai in Fermoy were set to shoot some hoops, in support of a novel approach to forging stronger community relations through a number of sporting engagements. The idea, which was mooted by the Cloyne Youth Federation, would see youngsters from the town go head to head with the local gardai. The first sporting encounter would take place on the basketball court, with 17 and 18 year olds from the Beechfield area taking on a 9-man squad, consisting of local gardai Pat O’Connor, Kieran Barry, Mick Costigan, Tom Ryan, Michael Sheehan, Brendan Ruane, Brendan Buckley and Eamonn Hickey. If successful, a soccer match would follow with youngsters from the wider town area selected for participation.

April 1994 saw phase two of the long awaited improvement works get under way at Killavullen National School. The £137,000 project involved the building of 2 new classrooms, a teachers’ room, library cum medical room, as well as other refurbishments to the existing building. It was envisaged contractor Pat O’Regan would have works completed by September 1st that year.

The battle for refuse collection was gathering pace in North Cork. A statement issued to The Avondhu from the Sanitary Department of Cork County Council, wished to clarify their position on refuse collection arrangements in the North Cork area. This came about as a result of ‘certain refuse collection contractors in the area misrepresenting the council’ regarding collections. The council clarified, via the statement, that no permission was granted to any refuse collection company to canvass in North Cork on behalf of Cork County Council; and also, that refuse arrangements currently in place would continue without change. In fact, the Council were looking to purchase 2 new refuse trucks with a view to improving their service. Any further misrepresentations would leave the council with ‘no option but to take the appropriate legal action’.

Fermoy Choral Society were set to tread the boards with their production of ‘Calamity Jane’ in Fermoy Youth Centre. Directed and choreographed by Valerie O’Leary and Rosemary Daly, Enda Dolan (‘Calamity Jane’) and Martin Gleeson (‘Wild Bill’) led a cast which included John Mulvey (‘Henry Miller’), Brian Kelly (‘Lieut Danny Gilmartin’), Mary Walsh (‘Kitty Brown’), Sean Scannell (‘Francis Frayer’) and John Lillis (‘Doc Pierce’).

A farmer in Ballyoran, Castlelyons suffered a second sheep kill in a matter of weeks. Clem Fenton was awakened by passing motorists who informed him his sheep were straying on the road. On investigation, he discovered that his animals were in a distressed state, resulting from dogs entering his lands. Three sheep were found to have been killed.

Bargains to be had in The Avondhu ‘Classified’ section from April 1994 included: Ladies black fox fur coat, three-quarter length, was £195, selling for £50; 10ft fibreglass boat complete with trailer and 2 life jackets, £360; Mobile home 30’x10’, wired for electricity, 2 bedroom - £2,950; a four door Mazda ’83, new battery, newly sprayed and in good running order – a bargain at £550.

In brief – Thieves were now on the hunt for time, as clocks were reported stolen by gardai in two separate incidents in Kildorrery and Castletownroche – one was a timepiece measuring 24” x 8”, while in Ballydoyle, Castletownroche thieves took off with a Motiv alarm clock! Minister for the Environment, Michael Smith, made his first contact in April 1994 regarding funding for stage three of the Fermoy water supply scheme, indicating that this was being examined in the context of the 1994-1999 Operational Programme for Environmental Services. Locals in Lismore got a view of American Ambassador Jean Kennedy-Smith, who visited the West Waterford town as guest of the Duke of Devonshire, for a number of days in April 1994; the visit was described as ‘a personal and private one’, with a long time connection between the two families.

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