Developments at St Mary’s Crescent/Terrace in Fermoy were on hold, pending difficult sale negotiations between the town council and some homeowners. It was planned to demolish and rebuild houses in the estate, while renovating those on the right hand side. Work could not commence, however, until the sale of houses were agreed and finalised.
Rumours that Cork County Council were considering proposals for a halting site at Brigown, Mitchelstown were slammed as ‘completely unfounded’. A committee had been formed of residents in the Abbey Farm, Abbey View, Brigown, Mulberry Lane and Sliabh Alainn estates ‘in the wake of the onset of the rumour’, at a local meeting. A senior executive officer in the council however, said there were no proposals for any development on the site in question.
Locals in Rathcormac voiced their discontent with early morning bus services in the area, as commuters claimed they could not depend on the bus service to get them to work in the morning. While they would get to Cork before 9am, this was reportedly no help to those starting work earlier.
RTÉ arrived in Kilworth on a mission to film the local Palace Players drama group, who were contesting the All-Ireland drama finals in Athlone in 2005. A number of scenes were shot in The Village Arts Centre with the cast in rehearsal. The group were bringing their staging of ‘The Wake’ by Tom Murphy to Athlone.
The developer behind a proposal for a 100-bed hotel for Fermoy told The Avondhu that it was a ‘golden opportunity’ for the town. It was expected to cost in the region of €35-€40 million at the time, and was expected to include full leisure, conference and function facilities, ideally situated for weddings. Plans also included 73 townhouses, detached and semi-detached houses.
Bye-laws were adopted by Cork County Council regarding the consumption of alcohol in public places. It meant that consuming alcohol in public was prohibited in Mitchelstown, Ballindangan, Kildorrery, Fermoy, Castlelyons, Ballyhooly, Ballynoe, Conna, Glanworth, Kilworth and Rathcormac.
Huge trucks passing through Mitchelstown on a Saturday caused a spectacle and some chaos, due to their incredible size and moving at just 4kph. The convoy was transporting four evaporators from the recently closed Carlow sugar factory to the plant in Mallow.
An EU directive that Ireland should clean up its act with regard to illegal dumps throughout the country was welcomed as 12 complaints had been made with regard to such facilities throughout the country, including ones in Ballard, Araglin and Cullinagh, Fermoy. Araglin locals had been battling against illegal dumping in their area for over a decade, and the Araglin Valley Residents Association welcomed the news.
‘Clean-Up Week’ in Fermoy proved a big success in 2005, with many people turning out to Dwane’s Yard to dispose of unwanted domestic items, which included hundreds of ‘white-goods’ items. Fridges and freezers were stacked four or five high in the yard. A council spokesperson told The Avondhu that Fermoy was ‘on the priority list’ for a civic amenity site, a site which has yet to materialise for the locality some 21 years later.
Local schools that were promoting healthy eating were the recipients of Health Promoting Schools awards. Those honoured included Clondulane NS, CBS Primary School in Mitchelstown, Kilworth Junior NS, St Martin’s Senior NS, Curraghagalla NS, Ballindangan NS, Grange NS and Gaelscoil de hÍde in Fermoy.
Glanbia, consisting of James ‘Cam’ Foley, Catherine Beresford and Annmarie O’Keeffe, claimed first prize in the ‘Tops of North Cork’ team final held at The Final Furlong in Coolagown. All proceeds of the Voice of North Cork competition went to Marymount Hospice.
In brief – Author Meda Ryan launched her book ‘The Real chief – Liam Lynch’ at a function in The Grand Hotel, Fermoy. A broadband mono pole was erected in Lismore at the back of the old monastery; at 18 metres in height, Ardmore Technology Ltd were hoping to bring high speed broadband to the heritage town, for a cost of between €20 and €40 a month.
Fermoy handballer, Jim Kennedy, received a special Sports Star award from John Treacy, head of the Irish Sports Council. Jim was the oldest person to win an All-Ireland handball title. Jim and Michael Jordan won the Diamond Masters Doubles 60×30 in 2004, defeating Galway in Ballina, Co Tipperary. He also received the award for his work over the years coaching young players.
Ballyduff GAA honoured the double winners of 1953, with a special Mass and celebratory dinner marking the year they claimed the county Junior titles in both football and hurling.
Mitchelstown GAA footballers retained their U16 North Cork league trophy, in a match against Mallow in Kildorrery. The Paul Barry Memorial Cup was presented to captain, Ian Condon, after they secured the win 1-9 to 1-6.
