A novel fundraising event in June 1996 saw a group of gentlemen from both Killavullen and Castletownroche go down on bended knee to raise funds to help send four cancer sufferers to Lourdes. The literal ‘pub crawl’ saw the enthusiastic participants go down on hands and knees, visiting six pubs to bring in the cash.
28 members of the Booley House traditional entertainment group returned from the 9th Yapi Krudi International Youth Festival in Istanbul, Turkey; representing Ireland, the group received a double standing ovation from the 4,000 member audience following their 1-hour show in the city’s concert hall.
The last of 14,000 sessile oak trees was planted at Annesgrove in Castletownroche as part of a nationwide project aimed at assisting the renewal of Ireland’s heritage of broadleaved woodland. The ambitious project was undertaken by Mitsubishi Electric Ireland Foundation, in conjunction with the Tree Council of Ireland. The woodland at Annesgrove was open to the public throughout the year.
Members of Lismore Town Commissioners expressed deep concern at the lack of toilet facilities available to a group of elderly residents, living in the ‘Alms houses’, close to the Presentation Convent. None of the houses were equipped with toilet facilities and ‘anger’ was expressed at the delay in undertaking improvement works, as the necessary finance was made available by Waterford County Council and the St Vincent de Paul.
Ned O’Brien of Castle Lodge, Mitchelstown became the second winner of the Mitchelstown Community Leisure Project Lotto, securing the £3,800 jackpot thanks to the winning combination 7, 12, 19 and 22.
The International Mathematical Olympiad competition was firmly in the sights of one local student, having qualified as a member of the 6-person Irish team on the basis of high-achieving Junior Certificate mathematics results. Glenville’s Eamonn Long, a student at Colaiste an Chraoi Naofa in Carraig na bhFear, would join with his team members in Limerick in preparation for the event, prior to departure and a 2 week stay in Bombay, India in July 1996.
An action plan instigated to counter the ‘considerable litter problem’ in Fermoy, was launched in June 1996, titled ‘Action Against Litter’. A very successful clean-up day took place across the town. Tom Cavanagh of Fermoy Image Improvement Group, hoisted a specially commissioned flag at Fermoy Courthouse, bearing the slogan ‘Fermoy becoming a tidier town’.
‘Because She Came From Atlanta’ was the title of the first novel by Watergrasshill man, John O’Flaherty. The Minane native had vast stage experience, having appeared in many Fermoy Choral Society productions, as well as appearing with the Cork Operatic Society – in total, he had acted in 87 stage shows.
A special reception was held in June 1996 by Lismore Town Commissioners to honour the outstanding achievements of ‘one of Ireland’s most promising young athletes’, Patricia Cahill. Primarily concentrating on the long and triple jump, Patricia was fresh from representing her country at senior level for the first time, having competed at the West Athletic Games in Dublin. A third level student in Waterford she had amassed an impressive list of titles from U14 level, with the highlight from 1995 coming when she was selected for the representative side that competed against the Australian junior team in Limerick. Her proud parents Richie and Marian, her sister Marie and her coach, Lismore town clerk Eric Flynn, were amongst those present for the occasion.
In brief – To mark the issuing of the one thousandth ID card under the Fermoy District Identity Card Scheme, a special draw was being organised by Fermoy Gardai, in conjunction with the Fermoy vintners; the names of 20 males and 20 females who had just applied for their ID cards would be entered – the prize, £50 apiece to the first drawn male and female entrant. Kildorrery Community Office, a new service run by the Kildorrery Community Development Association, finally opened its doors to the public at a premises on the Farrahy Road in June 1996.
Colaiste an Chraoibhin, Fermoy retained the PJ Doherty Trophy in 1996 at Carraig Park, Fermoy, defeating White City 2-1 in the final. Trevor Moloney struck for the winners after only 3 minutes only for a Mike Heaphy strike to draw matters level after 20 minutes. However, the holders responded with an immediate reply, courtesy of a deflected shot from Paca Cummins, a lead they would never surrender.
