A ‘commanding and stylish’ performance by the senior hurlers at St Colman’s College, Fermoy saw All-Ireland Colleges glory and the Croke Cup return again to the banks of the Blackwater. Banishing defeats of 1992 and 1996, the boys in green, captained by Luke Mannix, were rarely troubled as they saw off the challenge of Good Counsel from New Ross on a scoreline of 4-20 to 0-9. Only the second time in the college’s history to claim the title, the first being in 1977, one ecstatic supporter was heard to say after the final whistle, the victory was “better than a million pounds”.
As fundraising continued apace nationally for the Joanne O’Riordan Fund, two 6th class pupils in Presentation Convent, Fermoy came up with a novel fundraiser – hamster races. Young Muireann Greehy and Deirdre Morrison put their hamsters to work, eight in total, on a specially designed race track made up from ‘empty Pringles boxes, water bottles, bits of timber and even some drain pipes’. Pupils eager to view proceedings were charged 20p admission, with 10p bets taken and, along with a cake sale and lucky dip, £289 was raised in total.
Two 19 year old local ladies would compete in the Cork Rose contest in Jury’s Hotel, Cork in May 1997, with a view to representing their county at the annual Rose of Tralee contest. Namely, Lisa Cussen from Watergrasshill (1997 East Cork Easter Queen) and Joanne McDonald from Kilfinane, the reigning Kildorrery Rose of the Hill.
Built at a cost of over £300,000, new research laboratories which would accommodate a further 25 research staff at the Teagasc Dairy Products Research Centre in Moorepark, were officially opened in late April 1997 by Jimmy Deenihan, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry. The first substantial investment in new laboratories for many years in Moorepark, director of operations at the facility, Dr Liam Donnelly, stated that the centre was now “to the forefront of dairy research internationally”. The occasion of the minister’s visit also afforded the opportunity for Teagasc and FAS to launch a new certified training course for process operatives in the dairy foods sector at Moorepark.
Willie Lee from Kildorrery was elected as president of the students union in Tralee RTC in late April 1997, reportedly achieving ‘a landslide victory’. The Scart native, a graduate of mechanical engineering, had previously held the position of vice president of the union.
Very much held in the style of ‘This Is Your Life’ (for those old enough to remember that programme!), RTE personality Micheal O Muircheartaigh acted as MC at a surprise function held in The Grand Hotel, Fermoy to honour one of the town’s favourite sons, Mr Tom Cavanagh. Up to 200 people were in attendance for the tribute, organised by Fermoy Region Enterprise Board, with contributors including John Fenton, Raymond Ennis, Tommy O’Brien, Katherine Slattery, Timmy Buckley and Joe Murphy, as well as Dr Jim Brosnan, Eddie Nolan (general manager of Ford Ireland), Denis Murphy (chief executive AIB), Canon Pat Sheehan and Fr Donal Leahy.
Professional photographer Denis Hyland, a native of Mitchelstown living in Carrigaline in 1997, was announced the top photographer in Ireland and UK, after winning the Kodak Gold Award, the top accolade for wedding and portrait photographers. Receiving a magnificent Kodak gold-plated limited edition camera valued at £10,000, Denis won the title with a stunning portrait of ballet dancers in action titled ‘Dancer’s Delight’.
Members of the newly formed Lismore Mochuda Development Group, motivated by ‘the desire to develop employment and job opportunities in the Lismore area’, launched a new tourist information brochure at Lismore Library in the West Waterford town, with the aim of promoting the many attractions of the greater Lismore area. The full colour publication, while widely available in the locality, would also be made available at ‘various strategic locations such as Cork Airport, the Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre, etc’.
Kildinan native Gerard Murphy launched his first book to ‘much critical acclaim’, titled ‘Once In A New Moon’. Originally from a farming background, Gerard was a lecturer in Microbiology at Carlow Regional Technical College.
After a wait of 14 years, the U15.5 hurlers from Lismore CBS claimed county A glory, defeating St Paul’s of Waterford 4-7 to 3-7 in the final. Leading by 9 points at half-time, the Lismore boys soaked up some serious pressure in the second half but held out for victory. Captain was G Fennessy (Ballysaggart).
