A FAS employee from Mitchelstown hit out strongly against the fact that he once again had to resign himself to signing on the dole, having partaken in a FAS scheme. Joe Crowley from Ballinwillin Estate had been employed under the FAS scheme as caretaker at the Christian Brothers School for an 18 month period. However, although the job was ‘still there to be done’, Joe was forced to go back on the dole due to the rules related to the scheme. Earning only an extra £16 per week onto his dole payment, Mr Crowley told The Avondhu the scheme afforded him ‘dignity and independence’.
The future was looking bright for the West Waterford Language Centre, located at the offices of the Tallow Enterprise Centre on West Street. While still in its infancy, having been established in June 1994, Anita Wilcox was the lady charged with the running of the Centre, run under the umbrella of Tallow Enterprise Group. Students from France, Germany, Belgium, Chile, Turkey and Japan had been accommodated at the facility since opening and it was hoped the business would ‘eventually be a fully viable commercial enterprise’.
Heavy rainfall caused some inconvenience locally in January 1996. In Fermoy, the Blackwater broke its banks, leaving ‘parts of the town under a few feet of water’, though the extent of flooding was reported to have been ‘relatively minor’ in comparison to that experienced on previous occasions, with many taking precautions to minimise any potential damage. The worse area of town effected was the Mill Road and mart area, with sections impassable for a period.
Meanwhile, parts of the Ballyduff Road at the forge at Mocollop was also under flood water, with Council workers working hard to alleviate problems. While in Lismore, at Ferry Lane, a fallen beech tree blocked the road for a number of hours.
One of the longest established businesses in Fermoy, Toss Bryan Electrical, was undergoing a major transformation, with an additional 8,000sq feet of floor space having been added to their Patrick Street store. According to Tom Bryan, there was ‘unlimited potential for the business’, with a number of new departments now available to customers, including a heating and plumbing supply section, as well as a tool hire department.
Poor television reception was being experienced in Mitchelstown, with Cllr Conor O’Callaghan set to raise the issue at the Northern Committee meeting of Cork County Council. About a third of town residents were reported to be receiving ‘a sub-standard service’, which was subject to ‘quite bad interference at most times of the day’. Despite several approaches to state broadcaster RTE, nothing had been done to rectify the ongoing problem.
‘Rough justice for Celtic’ – so read the headline to Mitchelstown Celtic’s account of their league encounter with Kilbehenny FC, losing on a 2-1 scoreline, which proved ‘another disaster for Celtic’. Although Tom O’Donoghue had the ball in the net after 17 minutes, when ‘clearly onside’, the referee disallowed the goal – 0-0 at half-time. However, following a foul on Seamus Kilmartin, an indirect free kick from Tony Graham gave the Mitchelstown side a 1-0 lead. Disaster with only three minutes remaining, as the home side drew level thanks to Willie Roche. A ‘bodyblow’ to Celtic, but further heartache was to follow when straight from the kick off Tony Graham was dispossessed and Willie Roche scored the winning goal for the home side. Mitchelstown Celtic team: Stephen Slattery, Michael Darcy, Tony Graham, Andrew O’Grady, Michael McGrath, Tom O’Donoghue, Thomas Murphy, Karl Burke, Tony Lambert, Seamus Kilmartin, Kieran Walsh. Subs: Thomas Price, Johnny Dawson.
In brief – Ann Bolger from Ballyduff Post Office was the lucky winner of a new Opel Corsa, top prize in the development draw run by Araglin GAA Club. Gardai in Fermoy were investigating ‘a drugs incident’, involving cannabis, at local secondary school St Colman’s College, with principal Canon Sean Cotter confirming an investigation was underway – parents were reminded to be ever more vigilant regarding their children’s behaviour. As reported last week, Ireland’s oldest lady, Ciss Geaney, who resided at Fermoy Hospital celebrated her 110th birthday in January 1996 – she received a bunch of flowers and special surprise phone call from entertainer Daniel O’Donnell – eat your heart out ladies!
