A major plant expansion for the production of Kepak’s new ‘ready roast’ Global Cuisine product range, saw the company announce 155 additional jobs at its Watergrasshill plant. Jobs were due to be phased in over three years.
Mitchelstown native, Fr Michael Crotty, aged 35, was promoted to the position of monsignor in the Papal household by Pope Benedict XVI. Hailing from Skeheen near Mitchelstown, Fr Crotty was based in Canada and was one of only three Irish priests working within the Vatican Diplomatic Service and was serving as secretary to the Vatican ambassador.
The parish of Glenroe/Ballyorgan celebrated the golden jubilee to the priesthood of their parish priest, Rev Fr Michael Lane, after 50 years of faithful service.
Gardaí in Mitchelstown were seeking assistance, after burglars raided a bed and breakfast on the Fermoy road. They were believed to have gained access between 1pm and 2.30pm and ‘ransacked’ the house. A safe containing cash was stolen, along with assorted jewellery.
Kayren Hayes, a native of Mitchelstown, was appointed the new principal of Bunscoil na Toirbhirte, and would take up the position on August 29th from retiring principal, Brenda Duane. A past pupil of the school, Ms Hayes had been teaching for 23 years.
The loss of a proposed 100-bed hotel in Fermoy was both decried and celebrated among locals, after a material contravention – a vote among town councillors which could change zoning laws to allow for the development – was shot down. In the letters page, one local voiced upset at councillors, questioning their independent voices ‘when each of them seem to be influencing each other to outvote the remaining four’ (referring to the 5/4 split in vote). Another claimed councillors had made ‘an unwise decision’ in blocking the hotel development.
Kate O’Brien’s Pub on Patrick Street in Fermoy closed, and marked the first time in 200 years that Fermoy’s main thoroughfare was without a public house. In contrast, in 1915, there were 77 pubs in Fermoy, 20 of which were on Patrick Street!
Lismore Mayor, Peter Ahearne, announced his resignation from Fianna Fáil following what he called ‘the repeated failure of government to secure a public radiotherapy treatment unit for the people of Waterford’.
The town of Lismore was gearing up for their annual IMMRAMA Festival of Travel Writing, for which renowned English travel writer and comedian, Michael Palin, topped the programme. Also on the line-up were Brian Keenan and Catherine de Courcey, environmentalist Dick Warner, poet Louis de Paor, Waterford County Librarian Donald Brady and documentarian, Ann Roper.
A memorial stone in honour of Tipperary hero of Jarama, Kit Conway, and those from the Burncourt area who fought in the War of Independence, was unveiled by cathaoirleach of South Tipperary County Council, Mattie McGrath, in the village of Burncourt.
Work got underway on the N73 in the Ballynoe area of Kildorrery, after a deputation had been received at an area committee meeting, where the realignment of the road was sought.
Glenville residents were unhappy with local councillors after the publication of their Local Area Plan. Despite sharing their views and holding many meetings with councillors, about three-quarters of a mile that residents did not wish to be zoned had, in fact, been zoned for residential development, as had an area along the river walk.
Vee Valley Day Care Centre in Clogheen marked a decade of serving the elderly. The occasion was noted some 10 years on from when the former president, Mary Robinson, cut the tape and declared the facility open. At the time, the president had also officially opened Tearmann Ui Chaoimh in Mitchelstown, which in 2005 saw many services and events taking place at the centre weekly.
In brief – Funding of €40,000 was announced for the installation of a playground in Rathcormac. A site had been identified by the community council adjacent to Ashfield Place. A potential announcement regarding a ‘Research and Development’ facility at Dairygold was eagerly awaited, expected to be made during a visit to Mitchelstown by then Minister for Enterprise, Micheál Martin.
Well-known Fermoy author and contributor to The Avondhu, Michael Barry, passed away. Among his more recent works was the history of Fermoy Choral Society and a history of Fermoy GAA.
Ballyclough hosted the North Cork Primary Schools hurling finals, which saw Analeentha win the Golden Vale Cup defeating Shanballymore 2-8 to 0-1. Kildorrery took the Charleville Credit Union Cup defeating Baltydaniel 1-5 to 0-1. Doneraile were winners of the Springmount Cup, 3-6 to 0-4 against Ballyhea. Kilworth defeated Mitchelstown CBS 2-2 to 1-4. Finally, Charleville CBS were winners of the Cavanagh’s Cup, 6-7 to 0-3 against Bishop Murphy, Fermoy.
