21 years ago The Avondhu carried the news of objections lodged against the planned Tesco store in Mitchelstown. The Grocer’s Representative organisation RGDATA said it would negatively impact retailers in the town, as well as have an adverse effect on heritage. However, Mitchelstown’s Heritage Officer counter-objected, as they had never been approached on the matter and said “All too often, heritage is used as a means of objecting to things”.
Funding for a new school for Glenahulla was announced; the school, built in 1884, was closed suddenly in 1999 when condemned by the Board of Works.
Confirmation was made that the Watergrasshill/Glanmire bypass would open in the next year, one year ahead of schedule. The article referred to the ‘Lee Tunnel’ rather than the ‘Jack Lynch Tunnel’.
A dispute between the Conna History Committee and Cork County Council had reached a conclusion; the committee were seeking missing records from Knockanore Cemetery and the council had initially said that they were in the care of the former caretaker’s family – this was not the case. The council had lost them, but not before “much distress had already been caused to the family of the late caretaker”. The records were to be replicated by a FÁS taskforce.
Fermoy’s Orla McCormack won a VW Beetle in a national Spar promotion, while it was a hat-trick of national recognition for Lismore’s Shauna Humphries, as she placed for the third year in a row at the National Credit Union Poster Competition.
In Fermoy, Beechfield residents were “totally opposed” to additional houses being built in the estate. Conversely, they were in favour of a Community Centre, “once it was built for the sole benefit of the estate”. The residents of Richmond Hill in Fermoy drew attention to speed in the area, as well as the fact that they couldn’t get parking outside their own homes since paid parking was introduced in Mill Island.
The Kilbehenny/Mitchelstown Caring Fund in aid of Gerry Conway was officially launched by MEP Brian Crowley in the Kilbehenny Community Centre, while Rathcormac hosted a visit from a company of the Seattle Girl Scouts.
The campaign continued for a new Garda headquarters in Fermoy; the Justice Minister had refused to meet with a deputation from the Town Council nor answer questions on the matter in the Dáil.
Meanwhile, in Mitchelstown, a high-powered two-litre Subaru Impreza was stolen, while on the same night a 2.2 litre Opel Bartoni was taken from Blarney, one of just four in the country.
The OPW was appointing a consultant for flood relief works in Fermoy, while in a bid to make local government better, Cork County Council created 156 new posts at a cost of €6 million per year.
A public meeting was to be held in Castlelyons Community Centre to reactivate the committee which had disbanded in recent years, while Ardpatrick’s Monsignor Fleming was appointed Bishop of Killala.
Charlie Swan came to Auntie Mae’s in Mitchelstown for a Cheltenham preview event, while Ballyduff had RTÉ’s Dessie Scahill, as well as jockeys Seamus Durack and David Casey and trainer Tony Mullins attend a similar event.
The former Credit Union building on Lower Cork Street, Mitchelstown was advertised for sale after the provider moved to its new premises, and Castletownroche’s Car Boot Sale was advertised as ‘Munster’s Largest Indoor and Outdoor’ sale.
A full-page feature within The Avondhu advertised “Cork’s first licensed pool emporium”, The Abbey Street Elbow Room in Fermoy for “pints, pool, and party people”. It would be open from 12pm, seven days a week. Another full page feature was on Rehab Lotteries, with local agents for the fundraising lotto listed.
Lismore Choir members were pictured with President Mary McAleese. They had recently performed at Áras an Uachtaráin for both the President and for Irish aid workers.
All-Ireland success was celebrated at the Ballygiblin Junior and Juvenile GAA Social held in The Castle Park Hotel in 2002. Special presentations were made to Dave Moher and Diarmuid Lynch (accepted on his behalf by his wife Helen). The Kildorrery Ladies Football and Camogie Club likewise celebrated with their victory social at The Hazel Tree Inn, where a special presentation was made to inter-county players Niamh Hickey and Orla Murphy.
Elsewhere, the St Colman’s boys were through to their second consecutive Harty Cup fnal following a decisive 4-6 to 0-3 win over Cashel Community School.
Finally, at Kildorrery Point-to-Points, Susan Archdeacon, Fethard and Fermoy, won the prize for ‘Most Appropriately Dressed Lady’. She was pictured in a warm cream puffy jacket, gloves, and a baseball hat, fit for the Irish February weather.
