Vandalism in a Mitchelstown laneway was leading the news in the year 2000, as businesses in New Square said they were ‘sick’ of the criminality in a nearby laneway. There were claims that an unlit alley, running to the rear of their buildings, was the scene of criminal damage incidents and litter dumping. The group said that if something was not done rapidly, that they feared serious damage to property would occur.
“There were builders putting in the foundation for a manhole on the lane last Friday and they didn’t finish until 8pm, at which time they placed a barrier around it. However, they arrived Monday morning to find the barrier knocked and the manhole demolished. Whoever did it, had even ripped up the pipes and stood on the concrete that had been laid,” a local told The Avondhu.
The complainant also said that litter was causing a significant health risk and blame was centred on young people hanging out in the area.
In Ballindangan, residents were threatening Cork County Council with blockading a local road in protest at the failure to repair its surface. The Ballindangan to Ballylough Road, was said to be covered with potholes and ‘getting worse day by day’.
“We have repeatedly appealed to councillors to have something done about the state of the road and we have been ignored. Ample time has been given for something to be done, but it’s getting worse and should not be tolerated,” a local told The Avondhu.
Saint Michael’s Hall in Ballyduff was filled to capacity for the 20th Annual West Waterford Drama Festival. Bill Canning, chairman of the event, welcomed all present and brought laughs from the audience as he asked for a show of hands as to who had been there on the first night of the event, 20 years previous.
Carrie Crowley, a well known radio and television presenter, was special guest and in her speech, she recalled the many happy days and nights spent in Ballyduff and spoke of the village and its people having ‘that something special’ that sets it apart.
Plans to find a Miss Milk Rás 2000 were finalised and a competition was to be held via The Avondhu, in which nomination papers would be published. People could name the person most befitting of the cycling beauty queen competition.
Gardai had circulated a warning that fake £20 notes were in circulation across the area. Gardai said that they were easy to spot, as the paper used was inferior compared to that used for real tender and did not carry a silver security strip. The investigators said that all £20 notes should be examined, to ensure they were not fake.
There were plans underway to link Lismore in County Waterford with their namesake town in Australia. Rob Gates, Mayor of Lismore on the Antipodean continent, wrote to the local town commissioners stating that his electorate were anxious to get in touch over the Millennium year. Local commissioners in the County Waterford town greeted the news with enthusiasm and goodwill.
“In these times when towns are twinning all over the world, it seems apt that the two Lismores have some contact with each other. We could arrange an internet link-up and a joint meeting,” suggested John Heneghan.
The commissioners decided to write a reply to the Australian mayor and suggest a meeting via an online medium.
A Fermoy man who discovered his grandchildren’s pet dogs were poisoned, said he feared the potential risk of young children also being poisoned. Pat Thornhill, who lived at Strawhall, offered a reward for information so that the perpetrators could be tracked down. The first dog died after becoming sick and passed away just two hours after first signs of the poisoning appeared. He believed that the attack was a targeted one and he appealed to people to contact the gardai with information.
There was a special service held in Kingston College, Mitchelstown following the arrival of a new chaplain to serve the community. Martha Gray Stack – who sadly passed away recently – was officially welcomed as the new religious minister for the area. A large crowd gathered in the College church for the service, which was led by the Right Reverend Bishop Paul Colton of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.
In sport – White City FC scored a 4-0 victory in their match against St Mologga’s. The team were moving closer to their goal of first division status. Scorers were Thomas Murphy (penalty), Mick Roche, Kieran Luddy and Stephen Slattery.
Grange/Fermoy AC athlete Mary Sheehan won the Adare 10Km race, with a new course record.
