A Kilbehenny household had a miraculous escape when an articulated lorry left the road and ‘plunged through their garden wall, missing the house by 4 feet’. The Northern Ireland registered vehicle was extensively damaged as it ‘ploughed through a garden wall, a gate and a large pine tree’ in the early morning incident in May 1998. The driver was treated for shock at Cork University Hospital.
Drop Zone!
Daisy the cow was being enlisted by those behind an initiative to further develop Ballyhooly’s sportsfield, in an effort to raise funds for the venture. Fundraising committee member, Jim McCarthy, explained the concept to The Avondhu – on a set July day, Daisy would be driven to the sportsfield where an ‘expectant crowd’ would observe the animal as she made her way around the field.
Depending on where she would ‘relieve herself’, £1,500 could be won by those lucky enough to have ‘purchased’ the relevant ‘drop zone’, a three-square-metre plot for £5. A ‘panel of experts’ would monitor the event to ensure no ‘foul play’.
With the assistance of Co-Op Superstores, a ‘Daisy Wagon’ was constructed to tour the area in advance of the big day, to promote the unique fundraiser. Funds raised would go towards the provision of sideline seating, a new training area and car park resurfacing.
‘Growing threat’
“We must protect the children at all costs” – so said Canon O’Leary who was lending his full support to the board of management of Presentation Primary School, Mitchelstown in their efforts to ‘have measures introduced to curb the growing threat to children from increased traffic’.
Fearful of an accident in the vicinity of the school due to motorists not staying within the 30mph limit, parents’ concerns was being brought to the attention of the area engineer and senior county council staff.
‘No better than a dirt track’
The subsidence of a section of the N72, close to the Cork/Waterford border, received ‘an airing’ at the Lismore Town Commissioners meeting in May 1998. With the road open to a single lane of traffic, it was described by Town Commissioner Peter Dowd as ‘no better than a dirt track’, while Commissioner John Heneghan branded the whole situation as ‘crazy’ and ‘laid the blame for the lack of tourists in Lismore firmly at the feet of the neighbouring local authority’.
It was suggested that ‘tourists were being directed away from the heritage town and going to Killarney via Dungarvan and Youghal’. Waterford county secretary explained that his colleagues in Cork were experiencing ‘difficulties in resolving the legalities of the matter and that the problem of liability had yet to be sorted out’.
Mr Dowd suggested teaming up with Fermoy UDC to make a strong case to Cork County Council.
Raiders
Burncourt and Ballyporeen were targeted by what was believed to have been the same gang of raiders. The post office in Burncourt was forcibly entered and the premises ransacked, however the perpetrators left empty handed.
The same gang were believed to have been responsible for a break-in later the same morning in nearby Ballyporeen, where O’Casey’s Pub was entered – a substantial amount of cash and cigarettes was taken.
‘Due consideration’
A two-acre site situated close to the Cope building in Mitchelstown, could, with ‘very little work’, be utilised to provide young Mitchelstown families with a much needed amenity. Such was the view of Cllr Conor O’Callaghan, who put his progressive idea before Cork County Council engineers in May 1998.
By applying simple rotavating, rolling and reseeding, a field that was ‘growing wild’ could be transformed, as the houses in and around Ballinwillin were poorly served as regards playgrounds and amenity areas. According to a council official, the idea would be ‘looked at and given due consideration.’
In brief
The new floodlighting system at Mitchelstown Tennis Club was officially switched on in May 1998 by Minister Ned O’Keeffe. Serious traffic congestion was experienced on the Vee Road linking County Waterford and County Tipperary, when a coach carrying tourists and a grain lorry became jammed when attempting to pass.
A special heritage grant of £10,000 was allocated for the complete overhaul of the famous bells and bell tower at St Carthage’s Cathedral in Lismore – thus allowing remedial works to commence without delay. It was envisaged that the final cost of repairs could exceed £20,000.
In sport
Accrington Celtic, following a 1-0 victory over White City, secured the Brian McCarthy Memorial Cup and in the process a treble, having won the 2nd Division title and Tim Whelan Cup. While Brideview Utd in securing the Tony Bolger Cup, defeating Valley Rangers 5-2, completed a cup double having also won the Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup.
