Councillor Aileen Pyne became only the second female chairperson of Fermoy UDC following their 1993 elections, with Councillor Tadhg O’Donovan elected as vice chairperson. Outgoing chairman Michael Hanley had undertaken a seven year stint in office. Although proposed for a further term by Jim Bartley, receiving the support of John Guinevan and John Murphy, this wasn’t enough to see his term as chair extended. Cllr Pyne won the vote, with support coming from Roger Lonergan (proposer), Tadhg O’Donovan, Cllrs Egan and Fitzgerald. When asked by The Avondhu following her election whether she’d already known the outcome beforehand, seeing that she had come prepared with an acceptance speech, she replied “I always come well prepared”. Ann O’Connell was the first woman to have held the position of chair, back in 1976.

The organisers of Araglin Carnival were ‘furious’ with the news that the dates refixed for the Mitchelstown Arts and International Deer Festival ,were set to clash with the final week of their long running festival. Tom McCarthy, chairman of Araglin Carnival, said that despite an exchange of letters between both committees, no resolution had been achieved. A reply from the Mitchelstown committee, signed by Pat Mulcahy, stated that the dates for their festival were set the previous Autumn and they had ‘committed on several issues, thus making it impossible to alter dates at this late stage’.

One young man from Fermoy, 20 year old Daniel Rowe, was ‘hitting the high spots way down under’ in Perth, Western Australia. Living life on the edge as part of a 5-man team cleaning windows on skyscrapers and suchlike, Daniel had emigrated in March 1993. Having served his time under his father, Robert, proprietor of local cleaning company Robert’s Contract Cleaners, Daniel secured the position shortly after stepping off the plane.

Well known Fermoy man, Jim Lysaght (Avondhu columnist and contributor) was congratulated on capturing an ‘injured’ rare bird - a female hen harrier. Having spotted the bird ‘hopping along the ground and unable to fly’ in Glenseskin Woods, Kilworth, he managed to capture the bird and place it in a box, before ringing naturalist Tom O’Byrne. Upon inspection, Tom ‘could find no injury or reason why the bird couldn’t fly other than it being wet’. Speaking to The Avondhu, Tom noted that ‘although the bird was still very wet and not preening herself, she had however had a hearty breakfast of 6 young chicks and was doing reasonably well’.

A special function, held in the Awbeg Fountain in Castletownroche, honoured Noel C Duggan and the Millstreet community for their hosting of the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest. The brainchild of Castletown’s Majella Murphy, national PRO and Cork county secretary of Muintir na Tire, there was ‘a huge representation of communities from across the North, East Cork divide’ to meet the guest of honour. MC for the night, Robert Walshe of County Sound Radio, said that ‘honesty, integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and community awareness’ could be used to describe Noel C’s characteristics, presenting him with a memento of the occasion.

Gardai in Doneraile issued a public warning, following a spate of thefts in Doneraile Park. One female tourist had £170 taken from her parked car whilst out walking - it appeared ‘she had forgotten to lock it’; in a second incident, four French tourists who went to view the historic house in the park, had their luggage stolen from the boot of their car. Kildorrery gardai later recovered some of their belongings in the forestry at Quitrent. A spokesperson for Doneraile Development Company viewed the incidents as ‘deplorable, disgraceful and couldn’t be condoned’.

The death had occurred of Paddy O’Grady of Fermoy, the former Cork All-Ireland footballer of the 1940s. More affectionately known as “Hawker”, he began playing football with Fermoy CBS and captained the Cork minor team in 1939, winning a Munster championship medal. He progressed to the Fermoy senior team, claiming county glory in 1945. Paddy was on the Cork senior football panel which defeated Cavan in the 1945 All-Ireland final. He also played hurling with Oldcastletown, winning a county junior championship with them in the early 1940s.

In brief - Queen of the Galtees, Mitchelstown in 1993 was 22 year old Joanne O’Brien, who had been nominated for the campaign by her sisters at The Piper’s Inn, New Square. Fermoy town was looking forward to their upcoming Lark By The Quay event, a free family entertainment festival featuring a packed line-up.

blog comments powered by Disqus