The front page of The Avondhu at the end of January 2002 carried the news that slurry had been deliberately spilled into the popular Slí na Sláinte walkway in Kilworth. It was the second time it had happened in a number of weeks.
In other local crimes, windows had been smashed in Rathcormac National School, the latest incident in a series that had been happening over a number of weekends.
Up to 3,000 homes locally were left without electricity one weekend following strong winds and lightning; some households were left in the dark for up to three days.
Bartlemy hosted a Silver Jubilee celebration for Sr Geraldine Leahy in the community hall to mark her years of commitment as a member of the St Joseph’s Order.
Meanwhile, after 80 years, the Fermoy Confraternity Band had a change of identity, as it was renamed the Fermoy Concert Band. The range of instruments would be expanded and there would now be an elected chairman, the first being David Fleming.
Another new era was announced in Ollie’s Bar in Kildorrery as an article covered the takeover of the bar by Eamon and Sinead O’Gorman, who took their place behind the counter in December 2001. John McLoughlin, who had been publican for 17 years previously, had ‘hung up his hat’. Breakfast from 10am was still on the menu, with a newly decorated dining room offering dinner until 8pm.
The Farrelly School of Irish Dancing had a haul of medals from various competitions, and Gillian Monaghan was on her way to the All-Ireland Championships in Killarney. In Rathcormac, 76 year old Denny Howard had set a new world record for weight throwing, beating the American record in place since 1990.
Cork County Council had rejected planning permission for a private waste company to operate a second landfill at Ballyguyroe outside of Kildorrery.
Both the former Flair Plastics and Cadena factories in Tallow were for sale, with a price tag of €1.8 million each.
In planning related news, Michael Flatley and Cork County Council were in trouble with An Taisce for his planned alterations to the front of Castlehyde, which the heritage body said were ‘misleading’.
An article 21 years ago paid tribute to the late Paddy O’Mahoney. The Araglin man was celebrated with an account of the inaugural 1959 drag hunt, where he captured the Murphy Cup.
The Firgrove Hotel advertised a night of American Wrestling with a tribute to WWF superstars The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Elsewhere, SG1 in Fermoy was offering free entry to 21st party-celebrants and their guests if they had their party in the club’s VIP area.
CUH launched its first set of gender-neutral guidelines for staff to recognise domestic violence. Up to this point, materials had mainly focused on female victims.
There was a response from the Mitchelstown Business Association regarding a letter to the editor decrying the lack of public toilets; a voucher was offered to the victim and letter-writer, and businesses came forward to say that they would make efforts to avoid a repeat situation.
A five-page special feature on Valentine’s Day warned lovers not to forget, with ads from jewellers (we wonder why…), limo hire companies, and garden ornament suppliers. Guides educated locals on which wine to pair with foods, how to buy it, where to store it, which wine glass to use, and how to hold it. No advice was given on how to drink it though! Another full page educated the reader on flowers, their meanings, and the symbolism of their colours. The Avondhu also included a translation guide, so locals could say ‘I love you’ in many languages, such as Yugoslavian: ‘Ya te Volim’.
21 years ago, a letter called for the banning of hare-coursing, while in Coole, Fermoy, Hannah Weimer’s cat ‘Dorrien’ was chosen as a runner-up in the Whiskas and Pedigree ‘Pet of the Year’.
Kildorrery GAA celebrated the club’s 40th Annual Dinner Dance and Social in The Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, while Galbally Coursing Club held their annual dinner. Meanwhile, Fermoy GAA made a passionate plea for a willing referee to step forward or else the club ran the risk of being kicked out of all the leagues.
Carolyn Smith from Mitchelstown would be taking part in a parachute jump to raise money for Chernobyl children, while the annual Lismore Firefighters Ladder Climb had its most successful ascent ever with a collection of almost €3,450.
Finally, in Mitchelstown, the annual auction of a goose in Spratt’s raised an all-time record £1,100 (€1,396.71) for local charities.
