A 23 year old trainee at Moorepark, Fermoy, Sinead McCluskey was crowned the 1994 Rose of the Hill in Kildorrery. Representing Kilworth, although originally from Dublin, her selection was announced by well known Cork personality, Stevie Bolger, amid an ‘electrifying atmosphere’ in the village’s festival dome. She qualified to compete in the Wild Rose Festival at Manorhamilton and progressed to the 1995 Cork heat of the Rose of Tralee. The other seven contestants were Cathy Baker (Kildorrery), Jackie O’Brien (Kilfinane), Ellen Lewis (Kilbehenny), Jennifer Anderson (Mallow), Anna O’Donoghue (Galbally), Sheila Dorgan (Killavullen) and Mairead Clancy (Fermoy).

The creation of a pedestrian underpass at Brian Boru Square, Fermoy was ruled out by some council officials, as it was feared the development could have some antisocial consequences. The idea was originally a suggestion by a number of public representatives, which, if implemented, would consist of opening up one of the closed ground level eyes of the bridge to allow pedestrian access. However, having carried out ‘a special survey’, senior executive engineer Bob Farrell told the Mallow Area Roads meeting of his ‘negative findings’, stating that underground crossings in urban areas were ‘not a good idea’. Senator Joe Sherlock felt it was a ‘ludicrous idea’ from the start, with Cllr Carey Joyce not agreeing, while Cllr Conor O’Callaghan was keeping an ‘open mind’ on the proposed development.

Although born and reared in England, Sean Scotchbrook was proudly flying the Irish flag in his chosen sport of hovercraft racing. His Irish connections came from his mother Joan (nee Twomey), who hailed from Mocollop, Ballyduff, who along with his grandmother, Kitty, a resident in the West Waterford village, were proud of his achievements, after he competed in the world championships held in Paris. Living in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, his 10ft Eagle hovercraft, finished in green, white and orange, was capable of speeds up to 90mph.

A school in Doneraile appeared to break the mould in The Avondhu area in summer 1994, when the 26 primary pupils at Presentation Primary were ‘guests of honour at a special graduation ceremony’. Our reporter described the event as ‘the first of its kind to ever be held in our circulation area’, with a spokesperson for the organisers saying this ‘major building block for the future’ (eight years at primary school) should be honoured.

There was cause for double celebration at Kingston College, Mitchelstown - Archdeacon Frazer was celebrating his 80th birthday, while on the same day a foal was born on the green area opposite the college.

A pothole - or ‘leviathan crater’ according to our reporter - described as being in three townlands, brought a moment of humour to proceedings at the July 1994 Mallow Area Roads committee meeting. When Cllr Carey Joyce called for a large pothole to be filled on the Johnstown, Ballinahown and Acres roads, Senator Joe Sherlock commented, “My God, this one must be positively huge, it’s in three different townlands!”

The Avondhu dropped in on surprise 60th wedding anniversary celebrations at St Bernard’s Place in Fermoy. Family and friends gathered to honour happy couple Martin and Hannah Sweeney, who were married on June 7th, 1934. Martin, a native of Mitchelstown, popped the question to Hannah, originally from Clondulane, following 5 months of courtship, telling our reporter ‘there didn’t seem much point in hanging around!’, with Hannah agreeing that she ‘couldn’t get rid of him’. All ended well, with the couple raising 10 children, boasting 23 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Agreement was reached betweek Cork County Council and the owners of Maryville House, Kilworth for the purchase of a section of their land, to be used to create a new slip road off the N8 into Kilworth village. The junction was described as a ‘notorious blackspot deathtrap’, located at Downing bridge – it was anticipated work would take 4 months to complete.

All-Ireland athletics medals were on their way to West Waterford. Lismore AC member and Town’s Park resident Valerie Barry, a student at Waterford Regional Technical College at the time, secured 3 medals at the BLOE All-Ireland championships in Tullamore – silver in the 400m and bronze in both the 200m and 400m hurdles. While club colleague Patricia Cahill secured bronze in the long jump event.

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