Concerned residents met in The Grand Hotel in Fermoy to discuss the proposed 100-bed Lawton Hotel project on lands owned by John McCarthy, sited by the banks of the River Blackwater. Concerns ranged from the value of the site to the town and the ‘complete lack of public consultation’. Fears were also expressed regarding the associated housing development, in that it would become a ‘holiday home development’. The town council were due to take a vote on the zoning of the land, whether this should be changed from agriculture/open space to residential/commercial.
Elsewhere in the town, work was commencing on the site of the old Royal Hotel at Pearse Square, with developers on site doing preliminary pile testing. A four-storey retail and commercial development was planned on the historic site.
A vote was due to be taken by Galtee workers regarding new work and pay packages proposed by management. Changes included standardising pay structures across the board to €9 per hour, eliminating overtime, and increasing targeted output tonnage in each department. Workers stated that they were led to believe that should they fail to accept the proposals, their jobs would be in jeopardy.
20 year old Kilworth jockey, John Allen, completed a hat-trick of victories on the final day of the Killarney May meeting, winning on Da Sharp Lady, Peruvian Athlete and Tobar Bron.
New facilities at Moorepark, Fermoy were officially opened by Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan TD. New biotechnology and conference facilities were opened, costing approximately €6 million. A sum of €3.8 million was spent building five state-of-the-art laboratories, offices and conference rooms, while €1.5 million was spent on new research equipment.
The Three Counties Motorcycle Club hosted the Jack Murphy Memorial Run in aid of ACT (Aid Cancer Treatment). Held on a Saturday, the run celebrated the life of the late Jack Murphy, who had a life-long love of motorbiking. Mr Murphy was a Mitchelstown-based jeweller and was a driving force behind the formation of the Three Counties Motorcycle Club.
High Court proceedings were launched by entertainer Michael Flatley to wind up CastleHyde Hotel company, CH Management. It emerged that Mr Flatley had privately bankrolled the hotel to the tune of €2.2 million since 2003, stating the hotel had never traded profitably.
Gardai were investigating an incident of vandalism to a headstone in a Mitchelstown graveyard. It was the second time that a headstone erected by the O’Driscoll family had been vandalised in five months.
A ’05 registered van was burnt out in the Fermoy Pitch and Putt car park. Gardaí were investigating the incident that occurred at around 4am on a May weekend. Windows on another vehicle in the area were smashed. The incidents followed a spate of vandalism in the area.
Mitchelstown Playground sub-committee confirmed that a suitable site was located for the development of a playground, and plans for the new amenity were being drawn up while discussions were ongoing with the property owner.
Up to 40 kids in Fermoy Comhaltas Ceoltoiri were winners across the U12, U15 and U18 categories in the Cork County Fleadh, hosted in Carrigaline. Ten children from the local group were crowned county champions in a variety of individual disciplines, including Rory Sexton, Ryan Murphy and Eibhlin Lonergan.
In brief – Fermoy town councillors were due to meet with local TDs regarding a planning application for a proposed 50-bed unit for Fermoy Hospital. Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen TD, turned the sod on the new €26.2 million relief road for Mitchelstown; the project was to consist of a 4.1km single carriageway road, and the construction of four roundabouts, two road bridges and an underpass. Castlelyons were investigating the provision of a new community car park, to be located in a five acre field near the school, owned by the community – it was proposed to turn part of the field into a car park, the remainder to be used for a community pitch.
In sport – Cork ladies footballers claimed their third title in just seven days, when retaining the U16 Munster title against Kerry, 3-16 to 3-03. Bride Rovers club member, Sarah Barry, was among the squad.
Ballyhooly made their first ever appearance in Junior ‘A’ football, securing a 12 point victory over Doneraile at Shanballymore, on a scoreline of 3-11 to 1-5.
Ballylanders GAA U13 footballers were victorious over Knockainey in the South Limerick final in Hospital, on a scoreline of 5-7 to 1-2. Goalscorers included Danny Frewen and Mark O’Connell. Captain Eoin Martin was presented with the cup by Mark Reidy, chairman of the South Bord na nOg.
