‘A quantity of drugs was seized at a party in Mitchelstown’ in January 1997, following a search under warrant. Approximately 20 people were attending the party when gardai arrived at the house, with one individual being detained for questioning. A quantity of ecstasy was discovered and a file was prepared for the DPP.
An estimated 200 people, ‘from a variety of different interest groups’, attended a public meeting in Kilbehenny to discuss plans and organise official objections to the setting up a salmonid fish farm on the River Funcheon in the Galty Mountains. Farming Enterprises Ltd lodged a planning application with Tipperary South Riding County Council ‘to rear a particular strain of arctic char on the south-side of Galtymore’. Chairman of Mitchelstown Trout Anglers, Dan Roche, informed The Avondhu that objections would be made on ‘environmental grounds and also to prevent the spread of disease and so that the community at large…. continue to have the use of this (the Galtees) outstanding amenity’.
Following 21 years service with Shaws Department Store, Kieran Larkin retired in February 1997 as manager of the Fermoy branch, which he joined in 1990. To mark the occasion, the native of Rathcavan, North Tipperary was presented with a crystal clock by employee Ena Lane, while Liz Kiely presented Mrs Larkin with a bouquet of flowers. Amongst other things, Kieran would miss lunching with a group of men with whom he struck up quiet a friendship, ‘affectionately known as Cribbers’ Corner’. His replacement was Peter O’Dwyer from County Laois.
The Generations, a five-piece teenage rock band consisting of brothers Marc and Pierre O’Reilly, Martin Ormonde, Martin McNamara and Evin O’Reilly, were set to audition in Dublin in February 1997 for the final stages of a nationwide school rock competition, the Excell Rock and Pop Challenge.
Claire Keegan from Tullow, County Carlow was announced as winner of the inaugural William Trevor International Short Story Award, receiving £1,000 and an Irish bog oak trophy at a special ceremony in Mitchelstown. With 245 entries, from as far afield as Korea and Canada, Mr Trevor from his residence in Devon, England was said to have been ‘chuffed’ at the calibre of entries.
The chairman of Fermoy Region Enterprise Board and local urban councillor, Michael Hanley, told The Avondhu that he was ‘completely disillusioned with Cork County Council’s decision to sell parts of the old Faber Castell complex, without seeking the views of the members of Fermoy UDC’. The Enterprise Board had purchased the complex, but subsequently sold the site on to Cork County Council, as it was felt ‘that the local authority had the finances and wherewithall to develop the area as an enterprise centre’. Something Mr Hanley said, in hindsight, was ‘a mistake’. Mr Hanley claimed the Council had promised at the time of the sale to produce an overall plan for the complex, as well as to ‘facilitate Fermoy Boxing Club at the site’, which had failed to happen. A little piece of Fermoy’s history ‘had been lost’.
A pharmacy in Castletownroche, which had ‘been so dutifully administered by Fred O’Riordan for almost half a century’, was up for sale. ‘A professional to his fingertips’, Mr O’Riordan came to Castletown’ from his native Newmarket, founding the practice and winning the respect and admiration of locals.
Representatives from 9 local primary schools in the area participated in the first local heats of the National Inter-primary Schools Quiz in Fermoy Rowing Club’s premises, with quiz master Jim Lysaght setting the questions. Watergrasshill NS’s ‘A’ team, consisting of Brendan Healy, Eoin O’Reilly, Suzanne O’Regan and Sean O’Callaghan, claimed top honours. The school’s ‘B’ team took runners-up spot, with Kilmagner NS in third.
Glanworth United captured the Saxone Cup in January 1997, defeating Dripsey Celtic 2-0 at Turner’s Cross. United took the lead against the run of play in the 15th minute, with Pat Quirke shooting first time from 30 yards, catching the keeper off his line. The ‘inrunning caped crusader Fergal Fitzgibbon’ made no mistake to double the lead from a Ger O’Neill assist, which took its toll on a fancied Dripsey side and helping secure the club’s first silverware since their foundation in 1982. Team: Joe Carey, Noel Cashman, Tristan Quirke, Oliver Pyne, Paul O’Dwyer, Pat Quirke, JP Cotter, Paudie Walsh, Connie Cummins (capt), Ger O’Neill, Fergal Fitzgibbon – manager Anthony Kelly.
