Young Social Innovators winners

STUDENTS of Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Blarney, have been named the ‘Young Social Innovators of the Year 2010 for their project ‘The Mill Youth Café’, a new youth café opening in Blarney this September. The judges commended the students for what they described as ‘an exceptional project that was delivered with great drive and ambition’. The winning students received their award from Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, chairperson and co-founder, Young Social Innovators, at an award ceremony in Croke Park attended by almost 2,000 young people. As well as the trophy, the team won a prize of • 1,500 to add to funds already raised for the project.

TOWER DEATH

On Friday, April 30, the death took place unexpectedly at the Cork University Hospital of Brendan O’Donoghue, Elm Court, Tower, Blarney. He is survived by his wife Mary nee O’Doherty and family Simon, Stephen, David and Julian. He is also mourned by his sister Maeve, grandchildren Saoirse, Tiernan and Lochlann, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends. On bank holiday Monday the removal was to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Blarney. Following Requiem Mass the burial was at St. Finbarr’s Cemetery, Cork.

YOUTH CAFÉ

Greath work is being done behind the scenes to have everything in place for the opening of Blarney’s first youth cafe in September. Through the great efforts of the students of Scoil Mhuire gan Smal Secondary School, the Community Association very generously provided the building, giving them two rooms in what was the former restaurant or canteen used by the workers of Martin Mahon & Bros. Ltd, in bygone days. It is situated near the Gulley Cross, where the main road divides for Waterloo on the outskirts of Blarney village. Much of the electrical and insulation work is now complete and the windows are now being attended to. Foróige is currently training volunteers to run the cafe, which will cater for teenagers from Blarney and the local district. Garda John O’Dwyer the local Community Garda has been giving advice and assistance and he points out that they are still looking for more adults to help them when the facility is finally opened. They intend to have a shop, pool tables, internet access, TV, computer games and music to keep the young people entertained and away from trouble.

INNISCARRA DEATH

It is with regret the death was learned at Marymount Hospice, Cork, of Michael Linehan, Bridgestown, Inniscarra. He is mourned by his wife Chrissie and family Denis, J.J, Finbarr, Martin, Margaret and he was pre-deceased by his son the late Bobby. He is mourned by them and by his brother Denis, sister Eileen, relatives and friends. Following Requiem Mass the burial was at St. Senan’s Cemetery, Tower, near Blarney.

DAIRYGOLD AWARD

Kevin Dowling of Whitechurch outside Blarney, was overall winner of the Dairygold Co-Op milk quality award 2009. Kevin, his father Michael and their herd manager Tom Carr have a history of achievement in producing liquid and manufacturing milk from 90 pedigree Holstein Friesian cows, and they achieved this award for consistently supplying the best quality milk to Dairygold in 2009. They also sell dairy stock and beef cattle, and grow cereals. Their cows produced more than 560kg of solids at 4.3% fat and 3.6% protein, with a low average SCC. Regional award winners included John Hurley, Castletown, Enniskeane; Martin O’Brien, Ballyclough, Mallow; and Joseph Collopy, Clouncunna, Ballysimon, Co. Limericks.

LATE WILLIAM

O’CONNELL

The death took place last week at the Mercy University Hospital, Cork, of Mr Bill O’Connell, Ballyfireen, Grenagh, and late of Dripsey. He is survived by his wife Fionnghuala and his son Diarmuid and daughter Deirdre Lehane. He is also mourned by his sonin-law Kieran and grandchildren Saoirse and Caoimhe, brothers Mick and Jer, sister Joan Spillane, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends. On Friday evening last the removal was to St. Lacteen’s Church, Grenagh, and the burial at Grenagh Cemetery followed Requiem Mass on Sunday.

LECTURE ON FAMINE

The monthly lecture hosted by Blarney and District Historical Society last week featured Fr Patrick Hickey as its speaker. The author and historian delivered a public lecture entitled “Famine in West Cork” Land and People 1800-1850, and a fine attendance were present at Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Blarney.

MUSKERRY

LOCAL SOCIETY

On Tuesday evening last the members of the Muskerry Local History Society went on a field trip. Accompanied by Professor William O’Brien of the Archaelology Department, University College Cork, they went to Knockavilla 1200 BC hilltop fort and Gurrane Ring fort near Templemartin, where Professor O’Brien delivered a most interesting talk.

KEANE CUP

On Saturday last Blarney United and Douglas Hall contested the Keane Cup final at Turner’s Cross, Cork. The sides will later meet in the O’Connell Cup semi-final. The result was 2-2 after extra-time but they won 6-5 on penalties after sudden death shoot-out. The decisive penalty which gave them the silverware they desired was scored by Ken Coleman.

LATE MRS.

JOAN O’KEEFFE

Following an illness, the death has taken place of Mrs. Joan O’Keeffe, Lee View, Carrigrohane. The former Joan McCarthy, was pre-deceased by her husband the late Andrew O’Keeffe and is survived by her family Jim, Jane O’Leary, Derry, Andy and Donie. She was sister of Dan McCarthy and the late Maura and Gerry. She is mourned by her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, family and extended family, neighbours and friends. Following Requiem Mass, the burial was at St. Mary’s and St. John’s Cemetery, Ballincollig.

GLEANN NA LAOI

The girls from Gleann na Laoi ladies’ football club trained very hard before their recent game with Dripsey under the guidance of coaches Marcus and June Heinenin and as a result had their first league win when they defeated Dripsey at Ballycanon Park, Clogheen, in the U14 League. They were very pleased to win by 5-7 to Dripsey’s 4-5. Everyone is welcome to join; ring June at 087-9771767 if interested. The club hopes to start U12 and U13 teams soon.

PITCH AND PUTT

When the Wayside Inn Trophy was played for recently at Inniscarra Pitch and Putt Club, overall nett winner was Joan Cremin; ladies 1st nett, Ann Murphy; 1st gross, Jill O’Riordan; men’s 1st nett, Noel Hennessy; men’s first gross tie between Neilus Daly and John O’Riordan. New members are very welcome and coaching has commenced on Mondays from 7pm to 8pm. Harry O’Hanlon will be playing at Inniscarra on May 23, at 2.30pm, in aid of Cystic Fibrosis and all are invited to come along and support him.

CORK SHB

A confident Muskerry team dominated the first round Cork SHB at Ballincollig on Tuesday last. Eoin Hegarty, Ballincollig, was impressive and further points came from Tim O’Leary, Eire Óg; Finnegan of Aghabullogue and O’Connell of Inniscarra and Shane Sexton of Donughmore. The game ended Muskerry 1-18, Carrigdhoun 0-10. Scorers for Muskerry were: Diarmuid O’Riordan 1-6, Tom Kenny 0-4, Patrick Finnegan 0-3, Shane Sexton and D. O’Connell 0-2 each, Tim O’Leary 0-1. Scorers for Carrigdhoun: David Drake 0-5, Joe Kingston and Kevin Corrigan 0-2 each, P. Ronayne 0-1.

DIED IN AUSTRALIA

Mrs. Eileen O’Sullivan who died at her home in Ballarat, Australia, on April 14, was the former Eileen Moynihan of Cork. She and her late husband Padraig and their family lived at St. Ann’s Hydro, Blarney, in the 1960s before emigrating to Australia. Padraig has since died but she is survived by her children Breda, Noinin, Sean, Eibhlin, Mairin and Fiona. She is also mourned by her sons-inlaw Peter, Rolf, Tim and Frank, her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, brothers, sister, relatives and friends. She is remembered locally as a wonderful mother. Following Requiem Mass on Thursday last at St. Mary’s Church, Waterloo, Blarney, the burial was at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Garrycloyne.

EGG VENDING MACHINES

In our time we have seen many unusual products coming from vending machines. However, a Whitechurch poultry farmer is selling his eggs direct to the public after developing an egg vending machine. Tom O’Brien, Thrasherstown, Whitechurch, has cut out the middle man and over the next few weeks, shoppers will buy their eggs from vending machines that will be stocked daily with fresh eggs. The enterprising free-range egg farmer, who runs Eggs Direct, installed his first vending machine at his farm gate, and business has been very good for him. This enterprising farmer recently won a joint start-up award as part of the JFC Innovation Awards for Rural Business 2010 with this vending machine.

DRAGHUNTING

One of the biggest meetings in the draghunting calendar took place on Sunday last when the West Cork village of Grange hosted the 2010 International meeting. International Day is always very special when the Cork, Kerry, ICD, Cavan and the HTA English associations come together to compete for the very lucrative prizes on offer. This was a great classic meeting when hundreds attended. It was a wonderful course and the main race of the day the Senior draghunt was won by Not Now Man trained by Carmel, Gary and Joe Frayne of the famous Clogheen Club near Blarney.

SENIOR HURLING

The second round of the senior hurling championship between Muskerry and Avondhu was a great crowd puller last weekend. Were it not for the fact that Jonathan O’Callaghan scored 0-10 for Avondhu, six of them from frees, Avondhu would have had a greater defeat than the final score which was Muskerry 0-19, Avondhu 0-15. Scorers for Muskerry: Diarmuid O’Riordan 0-8, Pat Finnegan 0-4, Dan O’Connell 0-3, Tom Kenny 0-2, M. O’Sullivan (Dripsey) 0-2. Scorers for Avondhu: Jonathan O’Callaghan 0-10, Andrew O’Brien 0-4, H. O’Gorman 0-1.

CLOGHEEN DEATH

At an advanced age, the death has taken place at the Powdermills Nursing Home, Ballincollig, of Madge O’Connor, daughter of the late Jeremiah and Kate O’Connor, Clogheen, Old Blarney Road. She is mourned by her relatives and friends. On Monday evening the removal was to the Church of the Most Precious Blood, Clogheen, where Requiem Mass was celebrated prior to the burial in the family plot at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Curraghkippane.

WHITECHURCH DEATH

The death took place recently of Ms Rena O’Leary, Castle View, Conna. The former Rena Manley of Whitechurch died at the Cork University Hospital, following a short illness. She was a camogie legend, and was president of county senior champions St. Catherine’s. A former intercounty player with Cork, she started her camogie career with St Aloysuis Secondary School, Cork, with whom she won many honours. She played senior with Cork in 1960 and was captain of the Munster Championship winning team in 1962. She won Gael Linn medals in 1963 and 1964. She was a driving force behind the formation of the St Catherine’s Club, whom she captained to take the first club major title when they captured the Junior B County title in 1984. She was involved in coaching and training underage teams, as well as being club secretary. Two years ago she was honoured by being elected president of the club, Deepest sympathy has been extended to her husband Dermot and their family Sheila, Ted, Paddy, Derry and Brid, her brothers Noel and Jim and sister Breda Clancy, her extended family, relatives, neighbours and many friends.