The entire village of Ballyhooly appeared to have ‘moved to Cork’ in support of their junior B hurling team, who overcame Tullylease (Duhallow) to secure county glory, on a scoreline of 2-14 to 0-7. The team, captained by Ger Roche, led 1-7 to 0-4 at the interval having played with the wind, Ger Lombard the goal scorer. The doubled their score in the second period, with Alan Twomey raising the team’s second green flag. The club would contest junior A grade in 1996. Team and scorers: T Collins, J Carey, J McCarthy, B Gowen, D Magnier, Ml Twomey, K McCarthy, J Dowling, A Twomey (1-0), F Dineen (0-1), L Roche (0-2), P Duggan, P Morrissey (0-3), D Relihan (0-6 – 0-4f), G Lombard (1-2). Subs: P O’Driscoll for A Twomey, G Roche for P Morrissey, Ml Creed for G Lombard.
An unexpected move saw Avondhu Tourism Association give a three month notice period to Fermoy UDC, of their intention to terminate its licence agreement with the Council and vacate Knockananig Reservoir and lands. Solicitors representing the Association outlined that ‘with regret’ they were terminating the lease due to the ‘continual delays to obtaining approval for the project’, in conjunction with ‘the position of Fermoy Course Angling Association, that they together with Fermoy UDC should have full responsibility for the stocking and management of the lakes at Knockananig’. A number of councillors expressed their shock at such notice and following a UDC meeting where the tone became ‘acrimonious’, Cllr Michael Hanley asked ‘that in the sake of harmony, further discussion be deferred to the next Council meeting’.
Old friends along with members of the Shanballymore community, gathered for the village’s first ever Country Cannery reunion in October 1995 – an event which brought together those associated with the former fruit canning factory which operated in the village in the late 1950s/early 1960s. Following a celebratory Mass officiated by Fr Michael Fitzgerald, those in attendance gathered at the community centre for dinner, served by the festival committee. Presentations were made to special guests, the Elliot family, owners of Country Cannery. Amongst the speakers was Ray Bermingham, ‘home from the States’, who stated that the Elliot family ‘were overdue this recognition for a long time’, being the backbone of the community in that era.
Sports Minister Bernard Allen was in attendance at the Murphy’s Stout AUL Cork Soccer awards in October 1995, where he presented 2 awards to local connections. Pats Noonan from Fermoy, who started playing soccer in 1945, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award, while Willie Cotter, a man with Glanworth connections, was awarded a Service Award, having had an outstanding playing career with all conquering Cork Athletic teams from 1950-1955.
To coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Great Famine, the Palace Players in conjunction with The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth staged the Gerard Healy play, ‘The Black Stranger’ in October 1995. Directed by Liam Howard, cast members included John Murphy, Ber O’Sullivan, Kevin Gallagher, Kevin McCormack (replaced by Donal Sheehan), Margaret Walsh, Mary Walsh, Matt Greehy, Tom Dunne and John O’Connor.
A new-look electrical superstore, Cavanagh’s Electrical, had opened on 34-36 MacCurtain Street, Fermoy. A 4-page Avondhu feature profiled the impressive purpose built store, on 2 floors, with Martin Carr, managing director saying the move from 27 MacCurtain Street was necessary ‘due to the increase in the TV business and the expansion into the white goods market’. Members of the team included Bernadette Carr, John O’Brien, Mike Cullen Aherne, Colman Barry and Phil Dahill.
In brief – Visitors to Lismore Heritage Centre passed the 50,000 mark, with town commissioner Peter Dowd stating that with ‘the demise of Celtworld in Tramore, it was important that Lismore kept its Centre’. With a 2-bed house along the Wild Atlantic Way in Labasheeda, County Clare just recently being announced for auction at €17,000 (a smart marketing ploy indeed), Paul O’Driscoll Auctioneer had ‘a lovely detached cottage standing on 0.6 of an acre’ at Martinstown, Kilmallock for a bargain £16,500 in October 1995 – almost too good to be true. Fermoy Toastmasters celebrated their 25th anniversary in The Grand Hotel, where guest of honour Niall Brunicardi was presented with a citation from District 71, for his dedication to Toastmasters, by Ken Norman, district governor of Ireland and England.
