The Church of the Assumption in Ballylanders was reported as being the first church in the Republic to have a revolutionary fibreglass roof. The £50,000 project saw local contractors Fox & O’Rourke move on site to install the roof, which would replace the original roof from 1969 - a problem with leaking was finally pinpointed to the original flat copper roof.

The largest crowd in years attended the annual Liam Lynch Commemoration ceremony in Kilcrumper, Fermoy where Taoiseach Albert Reynolds gave the oration in 1994. He described General Liam Lynch as ‘one of the most effective military leaders in the War of Independence’, referring to him as a soldier of honour, tenacity and determination. He asked those present to ‘reflect on our past and to draw inspiration from it’, referring to the opportunity being presented by the ongoing Peace Talks in Northern Ireland. A whistle-stop tour of The Avondhu area included visits to Mitchelstown, where he met with members of the National Army Spouses Association regarding fears of camp closures nationwide, including Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy; a visit to Horgan’s Deli Supplies to unveil a special plaque to commemorate 10 years in business and officially open the newly expanded facilities; the official opening of the Castle Park Hotel in the town; as well as reminiscing on the great ballroom era, during private visits to Mitchelstown locals Jimmy and Margaret Wiley, as well as Joe and Ann Mulcahy. And finally, an unscheduled visit to St Carthage’s House, Lismore, arranged by Ballyduff FF councillor, Jimmy Quirke - also a member of the House’s board of management - where new building works were nearing completion.

A deputation of residents from the Ballyhampshire area of Castlelyons, told the Mallow Area Roads committee meeting that they were ‘sick and tired of the poor quality of road in their area’. Cllr Carey Joyce introduced the deputation, where John Burke spoke of the poor road conditions, saying the residents had calculated that approx £16,000 in road tax had been spent by them since the last roadworks there some 8 years previous, questioning why some of this could not now be spent on repairs. While Paul Murphy said the road was ‘full of potholes’ and ‘subject to severe bouts of flooding’, calling for immediate corrective measures.

There was a call to end the ‘strife’ within Fermoy Fianna Fail Cumann ranks, following a well publicised ‘commotion’ at a meeting of the branch, held in The Grand Hotel. Cllr John Murphy, through The Avondhu, asked for an end to the ‘festering bitterness over the presence of the newly elected John Hussey’, saying it was ‘not on’ and that the ‘swords be put away’. He said that Cllr Hussey was elected a representative by the people and his nomination to stand for the party was gained ‘fair and square’. Simply, it was time to ‘bury the hatchet’.

News snippets - A ‘whopper’ of a giant mushroom was presented at the The Avondu’s office, found on John Martin’s land at Coolnamahogue, Mitchelstown; measuring 13” in diameter and an impressive 8” high, it weighed 5lb and 13oz - some eating in that one! A motorist was arrested for ‘cone bashing’, when gardai were alerted to a driver having a ‘run in’ with a multitude of plastic road cones during the early hours; the incidents occurred along sections of the N8 near Kilbehenny, Mitchelstown and Kilworth, where the National Roads Authority were carrying out refurbishment works; the boys in blue however caught up with the individual outside Fermoy.

County intermediate championship glory for the parish of Ballynoe/Conna, with St Catherines claiming their first ever county title at this grade. Held in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, they defeated a strong Cloughduv side, emerging winners 3-12 to 2-11. Two first half goals from Brian Cotter proved crucial, with Catherines ahead at the interval 2-5 to 1-5. Minor Martin O’Keeffe raised a green flag shortly after the restart and Catherines went on to record a historic victory. County Board treasurer, Dan Hoare presented the trophy to captain Patsy O’Donoghue. Team and scorers: M Dorgan, M Hartnett, B O’Regan, S O’Connell, P Fitzgerald, D Walsh, P O’Donoghue (capt), Johnny Sheehan (0-1), James ‘Junior’ Sheehan, D O’Leary (0-1), K Morrison (0-2), C Clancy (0-7), M Walsh, D O’Connell (1-0), B Cotter (2-1). Subs: M O’Keeffe, E Geaney, S Neville.

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