Workmen laying sewer pipes on the Demesne in Mitchelstown came across a tomb containing human bones in April 1998. The find occurred on land owned by Dairygold and all excavation work in the area was suspended, pending an investigation by an archaeologist from the Office of Public Works.
It was not the first time that human remains had been found in the area, with finds noted in the mid 1950s and again in 1983. All discoveries were close to an ancient graveyard, in which the ancestors of the Kingston family were buried. Dairygold spokesman Pat Dalton confirmed the company would be ‘co-operating fully with those investigating the find’.
Shaws windfall
Four employees of Shaws in Fermoy were set for a financial windfall, their ticket being drawn for the National Lottery’s Winning Streak gameshow. The hot streak of good fortune was continuing in the town, with the lucky four following in the footsteps of locals Noel O’Callaghan from Clancy Street and Mary Jones from Kilmagner, previous gameshow winners.
The four put their luck on the fact that ‘because they were so busy in the shop, they failed to lay their £2 bet on a horse!’ Syndicate member Eileen Kelly, explained to The Avondhu that they were each due to give 50p to place a £2 stake on a horse that was fancied to win a race, however, not getting around to the task led her to Hanley’s Newsagents where she purchased two Lottery tickets.
Fellow employee John Condon then acted quickly, dropping the tickets in the post only half an hour after the purchase, stating “we didn’t mess around… we had a good feeling about it”.
All four, including Sharon Milward and John Langford, were eagerly anticipating the trip to Donnybrook.
Yum!
Some tatsy items on the menu of the Mill Tea Rooms in Glanworth, at great value, included: Fruit and cherry scones £0.60; Roasted parsnip and potato soup £2; Salad of smoked salmon, avocado, red onion and chives, with home made brown bread £3.50; Chargrilled bacon steak, champ potatoes, spring cabbage and pommery mustard sauce £5. Yum!
Fitting tribute
Celebrations at Fermoy GAA Club in April 1998, with the official opening of the Tom Cavanagh Memorial Stand being performed prior to the Church & General National Hurling League clash between Cork and Laois.
A fitting tribute to club stalwart Tom Cavanagh Senior, a man who was instrumental in the development of the club in the 1930s and 1940s. The impressive covered stand on the southern side of Fitzgerald Park, was blessed by both Fr Donal Leahy and Rev Alan Marley. There then followed a rousing rendition of ‘My Home In Fermoy’ by clubman Dave ‘Rookie’ Roche, a former Cork and Munster goalkeeper of some renown in his day.
Speakers on the day included club chairman Mick Dolan; Cork County GAA Board reps Brian Barrett (chairman) and Christy Cooney (vice chairman), along with Conor Cavanagh, grandson of the late Tom Cavanagh Snr, who spoke on behalf of the family, to express their appreciation in naming the stand after his grandfather.
Overnight celebrity
30 years on from the remarkable achievement of Tipperary native, Mick Meaney, who remained buried underground in a builder’s yard in London for a gruelling 61 days, The Avondhu recalled his world record achievement.
The ‘man with nerves of steel’ became an overnight celebrity, rising from the ground as the lid on the small coffin was opened on April 22nd 1968 to much media attention worldwide. April 1998 and Mick Meaney was still the ‘undisputed champion’.
Fermoy Hospital extension
The official contract for the long-awaited extension at St Patrick’s Hospital, Fermoy was signed in April 1998. O’Shea’s Builders, who had overall responsibility for the construction of the 30-bed unit, gave a timeframe of 15 months for completion, with a work crew set to move in towards the end of April to commence work on the project.
100% record
The young footballers of Ballyporeen Boys’ National School captured the INTO-GAA Skills Award in Tipperary in April 1998. Defeating Clerihan 4-6 to 2-2, Ardfinnan 3-6 to 3-4, Rathkeevan 2-3 to 1-0 and Cahir BNS 5-5 to 0-5, the Bally’ boys’ 100% record saw them qualify for the county finals. Team consisted of: P Kenneally, P Drislane, Paul Hennessy, E Meaney, J Sheehan, C Gubbins, K Lynch (capt), D English, M Bailey and J Roche.
In brief
Galbally girl Noelle Casey from Keylogues, was crowned All-Ireland youths handball champion at Croke Park. On a scoreline of 2-14 to 1-7, Galtee Gaels captured their first South Limerick senior football title at Kilfinane, defeating Bruree in what was the 1997 final – Andrew Breedy captained the side.
