In November 2000, plans were afoot in Anglesboro to install a cable car from the village to the top of Temple Hill. The inspiration for the unique venture came from local councillor John Gallahue’s trip to southern Poland, and support was expected from Ballyhoura Fáilte, Shannon Development, Bord Fáilte and the EU. The proposed project would cost anywhere from “quarter of a million pounds and £10 million.”
In Fermoy, an act of incomprehensible cruelty was witnessed as three men were seen throwing a small dog into the Blackwater. Members of Blackwater Sub Aqua Club rescued the terrier, and he was returned to his owner following the ordeal.
Following flooding in 2000, Carrigane (Mitchelstown) woman Catherine Condon was asking the council to find her a new home in the countryside. A mother of 11 children, the 75 year old had endured flooding of up to four feet of water in her house for 30 years, and was unable to get insurance for her home.
A pertinent (opportunist perhaps) ad appeared on The Avondhu 21 years ago: “Solve your flooding nightmare with FloBar” – a device designed to prevent water from entering a premises.
In Kilworth Village Arts Centre, a controversial theatre production was on the cards. ‘Cracked’ followed the experience of a woman in a mental institution. Local historian Leo Daly said the producers were “using mental illness as a basis of entertainment.” Less controversially, legendary country music star George Hamilton IV was due at the entertainment venue, with a complimentary glass of wine included in the £10 ticket price.
Kildorrery Historical Society was granted £5,000 to enhance the environs around the historic Kildorrery Mass Stone. The group hoped that the piece of local history would attract visitors “far and wide”.
Meanwhile, Mitchelstown Gardaí apprehended three teenagers in the same village for setting a car on fire in Scart, and were also on the lookout for witnesses to another car burning incident on George’s Street in Mitchelstown.
The people of Bottlehill got a shock in November 2000 as Cork County Council moved in to do tests at the new super dump site. The Bottlehill Environmental Alliance had been satisfied that an error had been made in the site selection process, and thought the council’s new tests were an attempt to ‘rejustify’ their decision.
Gold medalist, paralympian Tom Leahy returned to a hero’s welcome in Ballyhooly. The athlete had returned home victorious in the discus throwing event at the Sydney Olympics.
In Knocklong, the credit union proudly unveiled their Millennium project. A tourism and visitor information board was organised by Geraldine O’Donoghue, and designed by local, Chantal Sampson. The unveiling was celebrated in Molly Dawson’s.
In Clogheen, popular butcher Pat O’Callaghan retired after 55 years in the trade. Picking up the knives of the trade aged 15, he had taken over his father’s business, and upon closing noted that times had changed with supermarket’s providing inferior cuts of meat, at cheaper prices.
Elsewhere in brief – Birthday celebrations were held at Fermoy Pitch & Putt Club for Beechfield’s octogenarian, Mrs Betty Page; While nine taxi licences were granted to Mitchelstown, at a cost of £3,000 each for two years.
In sport, St Catherines Camogie team were “going all out to establish themselves among camogie’s elite”. Captained by Elaine Harpur, the ladies were in the county junior B final against Youghal. The writer noted that the team would be “overshadowed” by the senior hurlers, but that “Camogie is almost totally devoid of the nastiness and late pulling that all too often creeps into the men’s game.”
Park United celebrated their 25th anniversary with “one of the best nights the club ever had” in The Firgrove Hotel. It wasn’t all smiles though, as the lads had been “robbed” by Coachford by a combination of “desperate refereeing decisions and wasted opportunities.”
At least they weren’t at the mercy of their soccer counterparts in Burncourt, as James Butler wrote: “We have no hope of winning anything this year the way we are playing. The best we can hope for is not to finish last. Bally Rovers are the best!”
Bride Rovers’ were lamenting their junior B hurling championship loss against Killeagh, 3-8 to 1-6. Over the way, in Castlelyons however, the U21s were crowned East Cork B champions. Captained by Eoin Fitzgerald, the hurlers beat Aghada 4-4 to 2-7.
Kildorrery men were equally in flying form, as their minor A footballers completed a North Cork double by adding the league trophy to the championship, beating Clyda Rovers.
Finally, Ballygiblin minor hurling team overcame St Martin’s to claim the North Cork league title, led by Tommy Daly.
