Residents of St Bernard’s and Carrignagroghera, Fermoy, expressed their vehement opposition to the ESB’s proposed 70ft free-standing telecommunications mast in their area. Numerous objections and submissions were made to Cork County Council in relation to the planning application. Health concerns were top of the agenda, as locals feared ‘dangerous electromagnetic radiation emissions’. The mast was proposed to be located at a site in Fermoy North, adjacent to Micro Bio.
Ballyhooly bridge was the site of a collision, when a lorry crashed on the Ballyhooly side of the bridge. Thankfully no other vehicles were involved and the driver was uninjured. The lorry was allegedly carrying woodchip, which inexplicably went on fire. It was understood that the lorry caught fire under heavy braking, causing the truck to jackknife as it approached the bridge. Gardaí said that a tyre on the left side of the lorry blew out, and the vehicle went up in flames.
Despite not having been open long, the new public toilet in New Square, Mitchelstown came under fire, as while it only opened on Thursdays at 5pm, it was allegedly out of order by 11am the following morning one week in August 2005. The week prior, a letter to the editor criticised the appearance of the toilet and the cost of its installation.
Celebrations in Kilmagner as Fr Peter Hegarty saw his silver jubilee marked. The parish of Castlelyons, Britway and Coolagown celebrated a thanksgiving Mass with Fr Hegarty, a former Coolagown native, who was home from the Malawi missions.
Fermoy Fun Festival got off to a good start, incorporating fishing interests, Art on the Park, and accommodating vintage enthusiasts. One of the festival’s organisers, Chris ‘Kipper the Skipper’ O’Donovan, said lots of youngsters got their first taste of fishing through the festival.
A public consultation meeting was due to be held with a steering group, including members of Mitchelstown Community Council, business association, heritage society, leisure project group, AROMA, and commissioned environmental resources management, to prepare a socio-economic strategy for the area.
A team from Ballynoe Macra na Feirme set out to the Tullamore Show in County Offaly, representing Imokilly in the FBD Farm Skills final. Five teams participated – Ballynoe (Imokilly), Enfield (Meath), Whitechurch (Seandún), Dundrum (South Tipperary) and Moylough (Galway). The Ballynoe team was led by Ian Hegarty, along with James O’Keeffe and Stephen Collins.
35 new jobs were en route to Fermoy, as Acorn Life, a nationwide life assurance company, was moving into offices in the town’s new Anderson Centre building. The new premises (which in 2026 is home to Fermoy Education Centre and McCarthy Insurances, located on O’Neill Crowley Quay), was due to open for business in August 2005.Burncourt’s Annual Festival went down a treat 21 years ago, with plenty turning out for the table quiz, which kicked off the August weekend’s events, which was followed by an ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’ style challenge, and a family fun day.
Summer festivities were also underway in Ballylanders, as the Annual Pattern Festival was due to see a week-long extravaganza of family fun, with activities beginning with the ground hurling blitz.
Curraglass woman, Bridie Condon, won big with €68,900 and a holiday to South Africa, worth €4,000, after her daughter, Jenny Whelehan, appeared on the National Lottery Fame and Fortune TV game show on RTÉ on her behalf.
In sport – Cork ladies were the cream of the crop, as they beat Kerry to the punch, claiming the TG4 Munster Senior Championship title 2-15 to 1-8. It was the Cork team’s second-ever Munster title. Scorers for the Rebelettes included V Mulcahy, N Cleary, G O’Flynn, A Murphy, R Curtin, B Corkery and J Murphy. The Junior Championship final also saw the Cork ladies pull a rabbit from the hat, as with just five minutes to go, they scored two goals and clinched the title, 2-13 to 3-7 against Tipperary.
Four members of Fermoy Pitch and Putt did the club proud, as Fermoy hosted the Munster Pitch and Putt Championships. Sarah Byrne won the Munster juvenile girls stroke play championship, while Darren Quirke came third in the juvenile boys event. Gavin and Darren Quirke were part of the Cork juvenile boys team that won the Munster team title by 18 shots. As top scorer, he was also made captain and lifted the cup on the day. John Cahill was part of the senior Cork team that won the Munster title by 13 shots.
