In June 2005, a new €15.6 million R&D Applied Food Sciences Centre was announced for Dairygold in Mitchelstown by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin. The new centre was proposed to be operational by 2007 and would double Dairygold R&D staff from 15 to 30. In total, the facility would employ 50 staff.
Up to 30 new jobs were also reported to be coming on stream for the area, as a new advance factory at Coolnanave, Mitchelstown was opening. Rumours that the factory would be manufacturing computer parts were dispelled, as a source said the tenants were new entrants to the semi-conductor electrical industry.
Clondulane National School were en fete as they celebrated the school’s 50th anniversary. A busy schedule of events was to kick off with a book, specially compiled, being launched to mark the occasion.
Cork County Council’s planning process came under criticism regarding what was happening or ‘about to happen’ in Bartlemy. It was alleged that the wishes of local communities were being disregarded in relation to the Draft Local Area Plan (Jan 2005). In Bartlemy, 30 acres of land was zoned for housing, however, in the previous 10 years, only around 7 houses were built. The new plan saw the council proposing to extend the development boundary and zone more land for housing.
Mitchelstown topped the poll in the Anti-Litter Challenge’s second round of judging, with 163 points. The town received 83 points out of a possible 100, with the worst areas being the town centre, particularly New Square and Upper Cork Street.
The new school project in Kilworth was moving into the second phase, where the Department would assess the design, and projected attendance figures would be provided. A new eight-classroom school, on the grounds of the senior school opposite St Martin’s Church, capable of accommodating 220 pupils was proposed, to also incorporate two resource rooms and a general purpose room.
Fireworks provided a dramatic backdrop for the opening of a new community, sport and leisure centre at T.O. Park. The tape was cut, Mass was celebrated and a giant barbecue was held outdoors to feed the 350 plus who came along on the night to celebrate the opening of the new community complex.
Tallow was seeking a new fire station. Cllr James Tobin outlined plans had been sent to the Department, but monies were not yet allocated. A new fire station had been proposed for the west Waterford town since the 1970s. Just this year (2026) funding was granted for this very purpose!
Editor of the Drogheda Leader, Anthony Murphy, spoke to The Avondhu of the impacts of a tolled bypass on the town. The M8 motorway was being developed in Fermoy, with the exclusion of a previously proposed slip road near Fermoy Community Hospital, and the inclusion of tolling on the Corrin side. Mr Murphy explained that Drogheda was in a similar situation and that 90% of trucks continued to use the old route to avoid the toll, and the bypass did nothing to alleviate traffic.
Several hundred people packed the Blackwater Community School hall in Lismore for the Michael Palin event as part of IMMRAMA 2005. Thousands descended on the town for a host of events during the Festival of Travel Writing. The town was also eagerly awaiting a visit from Mary McAleese on July 2nd, at which she would officially present Lismore with its TidyTowns award for the previous year.
16 children from Belarus, aged 7-14, were spending 4 weeks in Fermoy and surrounds as part of the Chernobyl Children’s Project international rest and recuperation programme, which allowed children to get away from intense summer heat at their native homes, which contributes to the spread of radiation.
In brief – Cllr Aileen Pyne was elected the new Mayor of Fermoy following the AGM of Fermoy Town Council. Cllr Pyne had previously been elected chairperson in 1993/’94 and 1999/2000. Conna could have been mistaken for Costa del Sol, as a bumper crowd turned out for a rally organised by members of the ConnaBride Vintage Club.
Féile na nGael got underway with teams from Fermoy, St Catherines, Watergrasshill, Ballygiblin, Glanworth, Castlelyons, Lismore, etc, competing for honours. Fermoy captured the Division 3 title, defeating Causeway 4-11 to 2-2. Captain for Fermoy, John O’Flynn accepted the Cusack Shield on the day. Glanworth claimed the Division 5 title, defeating Castleblaney 3-7 to 2-3. Hugh O’Neill captained the Glanworth team.
Lismore Soccer Club held a social evening at the local golf club clubhouse, celebrating their 50th anniversary in style. Players and officials came together to honour some of the founding members of the club.
