The production line was officially started in June 1998 on a £1m contract secured by ‘dessert manufacturer’, Silver Pail Dairy, to supply Tesco Ireland with 15 own brand ice creams and novelty products.
In attendance were Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Ned O’Keeffe, joining with representatives from Tesco and Bord Bia at a reception hosted at the Fermoy manufacturing plant.
Silver Pail’s marketing director, John Hickey expressed his delight that Tesco had decided to do business with their rapidly expanding company, which was established in 1978.
The contract resulted in the company recruiting 20 new personnel, with the potential for a further 20 jobs in the future.
Foiled
A ‘respectable looking’ middle aged man attempting to collect poor boxes from shops in Mitchelstown ran out of luck, largely thanks to the vigilance of local traders.
Announcing to several shopkeepers that he was authorised to collect the money boxes, producing ‘some sort of ID’ to back up his claim, his attempts were foiled when gardai arrested the individual in the town. No money was taken in the incidents.
Triumphant return for Seamus
22 year old Seamus Durack made a triumphant return to his native Clogheen in June 1998, as he celebrated becoming the British champion amateur jockey.
Claiming to ‘like his grub’ and able to make his weight of 9 stone 11 pounds, the South Tipperary man ended a gruelling season on 41 winners, well ahead of his nearest rival. His season highlight was winning the prestigious Kim Muir Chase at the Cheltenham National Hunt festival.
A past pupil of the local national school in Clogheen, in his younger days Seamus was a regular with the local GAA club, Fr Sheehys.
Dick Barry honoured
Many political heavyweights were in attendance at a surprise reception in The Grand Hotel, Fermoy to honour the life of ex-TD and parliamentary secretary Dick Barry in June 1998. This followed a civic reception afforded by Fermoy UDC.
Serving 31 years in public life, 28 of them in the Dail (1953-1981), the Fermoy man received high praise, with historian and RTE personality, John Bowman presenting him with the ‘red book’, part of the ‘This Is Your Life’ tribute style event.
Those assembled were told of the effectiveness of ‘the Barry Electoral Machine,’ as well as receiving an insight into the man whose fondest memories were of ‘galloping a donkey through the fields of Bartlemy’.
The family premises at 26 Patrick Street ‘became the nerve centre of the Barry operation’ and under the direction of his wife, Margaret, ‘no letter went unanswered, no potential votes were let slip through the net’.
Ex-Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael, John Bruton, made the journey from County Meath, commenting that Dick was ‘a man of outstanding character, a man of the people, and a man with a deep social conscience’.
Believing that ‘a bit of a party was being organised’, Dick gave an emotional address, stating that the covert nature of the tribute had ‘diminished his faith in his family’.
Some of those present for the occasion included Enda Kenny TD, Ministers of State Ned O’Keeffe TD and Noel Davern TD, Senator Liam Cosgrave, Liam Burke TD and PJ Sheehan TD.
Special Congressional Recognition for Matt
Doneraile man Matt McGrath received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition at a ceremony in Suffern, New York, to honour his work in fostering closer relations between his beloved North Cork town and Ramapo, a town on the outskirts of New York, a twinning which began in 1989.
‘Living In Ireland’ published for Fern
Young Fern Marshall from Rockmills, Kildorrery had the distinction of having her poem ‘Living In Ireland’ published in ‘Euro Child 98’, organised by the Cork Women’s Poetry Circle. The book of poems was launched in Cork by Minister for Education, Micheal Martin TD.
Her poem read: ‘Living in Ireland is very nice, but there are lots of rats and mice; They come into the house, with the occasional woodlouse; and when there is cake they take slice after slice. They eat cabbage and rice, those naughty mice; They eat cheese and chocolate galore, and when they have finished eating all that, their tummies are very sore’.
Sport in brief
For the third successive year, Kilworth U12 hurlers claimed the North Cork hurling league title, following a hard-earned win over Kildorrery at Ballygiblin. Mark O’Connor captained the side, who were victorious 2-6 to 2-2.
The Avondhu Press Tournament run by Kilworth Celtic FC, was won in 1998 by an Army side captained by local man Joe Aherne. The side defeated Warranty Warriors SCI 4-1 in the final, with Darren Cody, Tommy Butler, Liam Foley and Kevin Gould on target for the winners.
