1994 was a year to remember for Mitchelstown Golf Club – following the opening of a 6-hole extension in July, history was made when the ladies were given full membership rights in December that year.
The decision was unanimously taken by both the club’s gents and ladies, with a new management structure (13 member committee) being put in place to run the club. The club boasted close on 400 full members (250 gents and 150 ladies), as well as 50 juniors/students, 40 juveniles and 30 county members.
It was expected that the 20 or so households involved in the Strawhall Group Water Scheme in Fermoy, were to get approval from Cork County Council to tap into a new source – this following the much publicised problems they had encountered over a period of time with their wells.
It was reported that the new source, located at Uplands, was drilled by members at their own expense, being aptly named ‘Divine Intervention’! ‘Exhaustive tests on both the volume and quality of the new source’ was undertaken.
Ballyporeen publicans were banding together, in an effort to protect their trade following the newly introduced drink drive legislation. The five proactive publicans in the village had organised a special Christmas bus service for their patrons, realising their rural businesses were being threatened. The service was set to operate within an eight to ten mile radius, taking in areas such as Araglin, Burncourt, Clogheen, Skeheenarinky and even Mitchelstown. It would involve a nominal charge for users, being primarily subsidised by the publicans.
Meanwhile, the latest drink driving advertising campaign saw many rural drinkers and publicans ‘up in arms’, being primarily aimed at the ‘in Dublin set, with anything outside the pale’ not appearing to matter. With slogans like ‘Hop on the Dart Bart’ and ‘Get a taxi Maxi’, the question on Jim McCarthy’s lips (proprietor of the Castle Tavern, Ballyhooly) was, ‘where’s the DART in Ballyhooly?’ He said that it was ‘a big joke around rural Ireland’, as most areas were not properly serviced by buses, let along taxis. The tongue in cheek suggestion posed by The Avondhu reporter to the Minister for Transport, was ‘when can you build the BART (Ballyhooly Area Rapid Transport)?’.
A celebration cake carrying the County Clare colours of blue and yellow, was a reminder that Jack Clancy had not forgotten his roots, when a large and representative gathering paid tribute to the former headmaster of Ballygiblin National School. The evening got under way with Mass at the local church, concelebrated by Fr Vaughan CC and Fr Terry PP. A notable feature of the evening that followed, was that the 6th class of the previous 34 years were represented, each saying a few words in acknowledgement of the ‘Master’s’ contribution to their education. Jack was appointed principal in 1960, with Nora Ahern taking over from him.
A rather unusual theft in Fermoy – the owner of a Volkswagen Jetta returned to their vehicle to find that the windscreen had been removed. A garda spokesperson told The Avondhu that whoever committed the offence ‘knew what they were about’, having cut the outer seal of the windscreen with a sharp implement. Must have been some ‘pane’ to sort that one …
It was announced that the Mitchelstown heat of the Rose of Tralee would be compered by RTE radio and television personality, Gerry Ryan. The third year of the local event, organised by the Mitchelstown International Deer Festival committee, was to be held in January 1995 in The Firgrove Hotel.
Glenbrohane National School recorded a significant victory, when taking the South Limerick Primary Schools’ football title, being worthy winners against neighbours Ballylanders NS. Played in Ballylanders sportsfield, Glenbrohane wasted numerous scoring chances, including a first half penalty, with the result in the balance right up to the final whistle. Some of those to give outstanding performances in the 1-2 to 0-3 victory, were Thomas Fox at full back; Micheal O’Donnell who played a ‘stormer’ at centre back; goalscorer Alan Dalton; captain, Aine O’Reilly, while in attack, both Padraig Hyland and Maurice O’Brien were very impressive. Team: David Dineen, Patrick Fox, Thomas Fox, Anthony Cunningham, Micheal O’Donnell, David Burke, Alan Dalton, Aine O’Reilly (capt), Padraig Hyland, Maurice O’Brien, Sean O’Reilly, Mark Morrissey, Ben O’Donnell, Philip Coffey, PJ Hayes and Declan O’Connell.
