Thomas Kent’s ‘orange covered’ trial notebook was due to go up for auction at the end of July 2000 at Sotheby’s of London, with concern raised by Cllr Kevin O’Keeffe that the notebook may go to a European or US bidder, whereas it should be ‘in Cork Museum’. The Castlelyons man was the only 1916 volunteer to be executed outside of Dublin, and the notebook detailed the particulars of the Crown’s case against him for having committed ‘three offences against the defence of the realm in 1915.”
Fermoy’s Natalie O’Sullivan was celebrating having won gold at the World Karate Championships in Hungary. Fellow Fermoy man Brian Toomey came home with silver in the Senior Kata competition.
In Fermoy, a four day oral EPA hearing was held on the matter of a waste licence being granted to Safeway Warehousing Ltd in Corrin. The hearing heard from the Fermoy Environmental Group on one side, and representatives from Safeway on the other. Separately, up on the hill itself, the Corrin Cross Committee were holding a draw to help clear the debt incurred in the erecting of the Stations of the Cross and the cost of providing electricity to the main cross. The total cost had come to £30,000.
The weekly Garda Report was busier than usual, with four mobile phones lost (three of them Nokias), two wallets, a stepladder ‘missing’, a tandem axle trailer stolen in Castletownroche, and two heifers found in Fermoy.
Sammy the Snake sessions were in full swing in Fermoy swimming pool; while also on the water, Fermoy rower Gearóid Towey and his teammates qualified for the Sydney Olympics in the lightweight coxless fours.
A special 12 page Building Guide in 2000 foretold of a new Ireland – houses were ‘getting bigger and more lavish by the day’. The theory in the report was that Irish people had a sociological need to own a house, owing to a long history of a people who could never hope to own the land they worked. House prices in 2000 had risen 17% but were predicted to rise by ‘just’ 12% in 2001. Jacuzzi baths were highlighted as an option for homeowners, as were showers in any room in the house – you just needed ‘imagination’!
Disgruntled commentary from Fermoy businesses in July 2000. The town was in disarray as roadworks on the Cork Road continued. The road had ben dug up for a second time and Maurice Manning, town clerk, foresaw ‘no prospect of any short term relief’ for residents and businesses as works were next due at Duntahane junction.
Skeheenarinky woman, Sally Halloran celebrated the Millennium with the building of a grotto in her family garden, where 50 people gathered to hear Mass celebrated by Fr Jimmy Browne.
The building of a new £1.3m reservoir at Uplands, Fermoy, affectionately known as the ‘champagne glass’, was ahead of schedule, set to operational in August 2000. In the Inter Towns Litter Challenge, Fermoy trailed Ballincollig for second place following round 2, while Mitchelstown was second to last, beating only Mallow. The towns had three weeks to improve their rankings.
The Avondhu Classifieds pages indicated the region was doing a Celtic Tiger-sized cleanout. One seller was offering a double barrelled shotgun along with two mahogany doors, while the seller of a Yamaha motorcycle was also getting rid of a piano accordion! The entire contents of a pre-school were also available to interested parties.
In entertainment, Brendan Grace, ‘Ireland’s greatest comedian’, was scheduled for Cahir House Hotel, following his presence at an Irish evening in Monaco where he entertained Prince Rainier and Prince Albert. Meanwhile, in SG1, upcoming DJs from Ibiza, Germany and France, were all scheduled well into Autumn 2000. Out in Kades Kounty, Brendan Shine was set to entertain the locals.
Underage drinking was under the microscope in July 2000, as publicans were no longer able to make the defence of ‘reasonable belief’ that a customer was over 18. The introduction of a new voluntary age card was due to help publicans make the right call.
Fermoy snooker player Dáithí Whelan was selected to represent Ireland at the 2000 World U21 Snooker Championships in Bangalore, India. The player was lauded for his talent and was due to play a fundraising exhibition match against World U21 player, Rodney Goggins.
Kildorrery and Glanworth championship encounters ended in a second draw in 15 days, when both their Junior A footballers and Junior B hurlers games ended all square. Meanwhile, in Castletownroche, the Junior A hurlers ended Dromina’s unbeaten run in the league in very windy conditions in a game that was described as ‘very entertaining’.
Over in Listowel, the Mitchelstown U16 chess team took the title at the Munster Community Games, and earned a place at the national finals at Mosney. The town had another reason to celebrate, as athlete Karen Considine held on to the national title in the 100m sprint, and took silver in the 200m sprint at the National AA1 Track and Field Championships in Tullamore.
