The Avondhu

2021 the year in review

Continued from last week

JULY

July 2021 opened with “anger and disgust” at the government’s decision to do a U-turn on indoor dining, leaving diners out in the cold. In mid-July, Covid certs began to be issued to enable indoor dining,

In Mitchelstown, two new awnings appeared in New Square, to a mixed and cautious reaction. Worries abounded about the ‘new’ Delta variant of Covid-19.

Fermoy rower Alison Bergin headed to the Czech Republic to present Ireland at the World Rowing U23 Championships, finishing in third place in her category.

Jim Sheridan’s documentary on the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder case featured former priest of Watergrasshill, Fr Denis Cashman.

July 7th saw the partial collapse of 49 Upper Cork St in Mitchelstown onto the main street, thankfully without any pedestrians being injured. McDonald’s Drive-Thru at Circle K outside Fermoy opened, and a new chainsaw sculpture appeared in Kilfinane in South Limerick. The ban on Confirmations and Communions caused a priest in Castlelyons to criticise the government’s handling of the subject, while the Rural Independent Group called it ‘ inhumane”. In sport, Castlelyons girls made history for the club with their first Minor camogie title.

In mid July, Major General Sean Clancy of Mitchelstown was appointed Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. Cars were discovered dumped in the River Blackwater, later revealed to have been placed there decades ago to fortify the banks of the river.

In Mitchelstown, Pauline’s Gifts & Crafts closed after 17 years in business at Lower Cork Street, while over in Kildorrery, the village was left high and dry as dreams of a new water tower were quashed by Cork County Council.

A damning ecological report in late July noted the River Blackwater’s declining ecological status, and the highest mercury levels were detected in the river in Lismore. Kittens were found dumped by the side of the road in Mitchelstown in high temperatures this month, an inhumane act deplored by a local charity worker.

The end of July saw the Pride Parade travel through both Mitchelstown and Fermoy. Rathcormac man Stephen O’Leary appeared on TV screens in popular Irish soap, ‘ Fair City’. FAI President Gerry McAnaney visited Kilworth FC, while Ita Kiely retired after 21 years of service in the Ballyhoura Mountain Lodge.

Castlelyons intermediate hurlers qualified for the league cup final, recording a ‘solid victory’ over Watergrasshill 1-19 to 3-10; Cúl camps were the order of the day with Galtee Gaels, Mitchelstown/Ballygiblin, Bride Rovers and Fr Sheehy’s, amongst others, holding successful events. Meanwhile, Mitchelstown Tennis Club held a 24 hour tennis marathon.

AUGUST

Fermoy Karate Club’s Brian Toomey brought home both gold and bronze medals from the European Karate Championships in Slovenia. A walk-in clinic for Covid vaccinations opened in Mallow, and wind turbines in the Barranafaddock Wind Farm at Ballyduff and Araglin, were released from ‘standby’ and deemed allowable by the Court of Appeal.

Leary’s Cross in Castlelyons was the scene of yet another collision in August 2021, the situation being described as having ‘gone beyond a joke’; plans for a new layout and a promise for action was made by the county council. Galbally welcomed their Northern counterparts from Galbally, Co Tyrone, as the ‘nordies’ had cycled 200 miles to visit their Limerick relations.

Moorepark came under fire for having wildly different biodiversity approaches to their front and back entrances, with beautiful wildflowers at one and weedkiller being applied at the other. Teagasc then vowed to remedy the situation.

In mid-August, Mitchelstown lotto players were urged to check their tickets, as a winning ticket of over €50,000 was sold in the post office. In Fermoy, a black BMW that had been abandoned and parked up for four months was set to be removed from Patrick Street, and on the Covid front, 12-15 year olds were the next to be offered vaccines in August.

Limerick, lest we forget, were the winners of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, but the staging of the event was somewhat controversial as 40,000 patrons attended, while live music was still forbidden due to Covid regulations. Araglin GAA were in top form too, with the men achieving a single point county final win, and Rockchapel emerged victorious over Mitchelstown in the County IFC final.

The pages of TheAvondhu were filling up with pictures of people once again enjoying outdoor events, with sit-down concerts in T.O. Park, Araglin and Kilworth featuring. Ballindangan’s Leish O’Brien, who would pass away in December 2021, celebrated her 100th birthday in August.

SEPTEMBER

Skeheenarinky’s Shannon Brennan, who had been crowned Miss Tipperary South, was an unsuccessful contender for Miss Ireland in early September, and in Waterford, fears were realised when Tallow Horse Fair was cancelled yet again. Criminals posing as Gardaí struck in Watergrasshill, while Ballyporeen and Clogheen fought, successfully, to keep their real Gardaí from redeployment.

A beautiful outdoor lightshow delighted Burncourt residents at the local castle, and delighted children were starting - and returning, finally - to schools around the region.

The Fermoy Coarse Angling Association Festival was cancelled for a fourth time in September 2021, this time allegedly due to a lack of accommodation. Ex RTÉ presenter, Doneraile native Donncha Ó Dúlaing, sadly passed away.

According to a local TD, the Minister for

Housing was set to head to Mitchelstown in the coming months to see the effects of the delayed Waste Water Treatment Plant. Meanwhile, residents in Lismore were put on a ‘boil water’ notice, followed by Doneraile.

The Autumn Air series of concerts took place in September in Mitchelstown, bringing top class bands in a ‘mini-Indiependence’. Happily, the annual festival itself was announced as returning too, while the Cork 20 Rally took place around Bartlemy, Rathcormac and Watergrasshill.

Shanowen Estate in Rathcormac was on Cork County Council’s agenda and compared to a ‘third world country’. No less contentious was Emmet Street in Fermoy, described as “30 minutes of madness” at schooltime.

There was a crushing blow for campaigners on the N73 Clogher Cross to Waterdyke Road, as it was revealed that there was no money to do the improvement project, despite all the planning undertaken. A slow drive protest, organised by Cllr Frank Roche, was held on the stretch of road.

The national labour shortage was becoming apparent locally, as the ‘Appointments’ pages of TheAvondhu swelled to four pages of job adverts over many weeks.

A permanent memorial to hunger striker Michael O’Reily was erected in Ballylanders.

Also in September, the Ballycastle Gaels U16 girls were triumphant as they took their second North Cork title, and the Killavullen LGFA U16 girls were victorious too in the C2 final.

Mitchelstown native Shane Ronayne was announced as the new Cork ladies football manager, and in Castlelyons, Donal O’Brien walked 70 laps of Fr Ferris Field for his 70th birthday.

OCTOBER

Castletownroche’s new AstroTurf facility was officially opened in October, as was Kilbehenny’s walking path. In Mitchelstown, boxer Vladimir Belujsky came home with a middleweight title, while residents of the town experienced a water outage, later revealed to be caused by a blockage.

Fish carcasses were dumped in the River Blackwater in Fermoy, and the public toilets in Ashe Quay was the scene of vandalism. The Social Hub in Mitchelstown were happy to gather together in The Firgrove for the first time in months, for afternoon tea and a sing-song.

Bank of Ireland branches closed their doors for the last time October in Mitchelstown, Lismore and Glanmire, amongst 88 branches nationwide to meet the same fate. Meanwhile, plans for the €4.5 million Georgian Quarter in Mitchelstown came to light, and Galbally Fair returned to the community. The Budget announced by Government left many underwhelmed in October, with fuel increases the only thing notable reported by many.

A sculpture of Oisín of na Fianna grew from the earth by the River Keale, and a prospecting licence was granted for Anglesboro. In Araglin, Peg O’Brien celebrated her 100th birthday. A Conna lady fell victim to a sophisticated text scam and told her story to warn others, while a collision took away part of the Ballaghaderg Bridge in Mitchelstown.

Killavullen’s Jack Shanahan returned from Russia triumphant as the champ of the Drift Series Grand Prix, with Castletownroche’s James Deane securing third place.

In late October, the U14 Kilworth ladies brought home their first camogie county title to the village, while the Kildorrery U13 girls were North Cork champions in camogie too. Mitchelstown footballers were crowned the North Cork Junior B champions, defeating Buttevant 4-12 to 0-10.

At the end of the month, the HSE confirmed the Mitchelstown Dental Clinic would not be reopening, and “deadly dangerous” bollards appeared on the road in Watergrasshill on the turnoff to the GAA pitch. In Glanworth, the James Meaney Hurling Wall was opened, while Araglin’s John Allen had a major win with ‘State of Play’, securing the Ladbrokes Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in Australia.

Social dancing was on the go again, with some lingering confusion about what was allowable.

October also saw the passing of Jacqui Mullen, a former manager at Kilcoran Lodge Hotel.

NOVEMBER

November kicked off with a burst water pipe causing dusruption on the bridge in Fermoy, while representatives from across Mitchelstown came together for a meeting on 49 Upper Cork Street, issuing an ultimatum to the council to take action. ‘The Purge’ - a night of criminal damage - took place in Lismore on Hallowe’en night.

Jim Hyland’s Bookshop in Mitchelstown closed its doors permanently, with Jim announcing his retirement, while the James St carpark finally opened in the town. The Allotment Group in Mitchelstown and the Fermoy Tidy Towns both clinched Pride In Our Community awards. While in sport, Fermoy’s Hayden Supple took the Boys U15 All-Ireland handball singles title.

Kilworth men won their first JAFC title, while a damning EPA report named Rathcormac and Mitchelstown as areas that failed EU water treatment standards. The COP-26 summit was taking place in Glasgow, with young local activist Amy O’Brien from Mitchelstown joining the protestors.

November saw investigations into an alleged assault at St Colman’s Park, Fermoy, while in Kildorrery there were dramatic scenes as a truck overturned on the N73. In Mitchelstown, Frank Keating launched his debut novel, and Glanworth’s Donal O’Keeffe was nominated for a humanitarian award for his journalism.

In mid-November, Adrian O’Hara, Lismore and originally from Fermoy, along with Shane Moloney, Doneraile, were locals recognised with National Bravery Awards, while boxer Danny ‘Boy’ Keating of Mitchelstown had his first professional Irish win.

Ballygiblin’s Junior A hurlers nabbed the North Cork championship, with the hurlers going on to be crowned county champions. Neighbours Skeheenarinky were crowned Tipperary Junior A Hurling champions.

Protestors took to the streets in Mitchelstown at the collapsed building on Upper Cork Street in late November, while Glenroe CNS students happily skipped into their new brand-new school building.

The Uplands development in Fermoy was criticised, but the council maintained that the period to make submissions was closed.

Conna Dramatic Society made it through to the All-Ireland one-act finals, while schools across the region got together for the annual Team Hope Shoebox Appeal. Fermoy Macra took part in the All-Ireland bowling final

In November, the jury into the inquest of the Hennessy brothers’ deaths, that took place outside Mitchelstown earlier in the year, returned their verdict, that Johnny Hennessy took the lives of his brothers for an ‘unknown reason’, before taking his own life.

DECEMBER

December 2021 kicked off with an appeal from Jim Burke to make St Fanahan’s Well in Mitchelstown accessible for all, while Conna’s Marie Clancy and Cappoquin’s Tricia McCarthy received national recognition for their volunteering work with their local camogie clubs. Fermoy’s Brian O’Sullivan was honoured with the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award for the strides made by his company Zeus, and the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 meant some people started to cocoon again.

Street planters in Fermoy were vandalised, and Irish Water confirmed it had “no responsibility” for the building of a waste water treatment plant in Kilbehenny, forcing the matter back to the county councils of Limerick and Cork. Cork County Council confirmed they wouldn’t be taking a hand in the old FCA Hall in Mitchelstown, leaving the matter between the OPW and the local community council.

Permission was granted to demolish The Twilight Zone in Fermoy, for the building of apartments.

Rebecca Storm was one of the artists who performed at St George’s Arts & Heritage Centre, and the newly refurbished Lidl supermarket opened in Mitchelstown.

The year was closing with the news that Kilworth’s John Horgan had claimed an All-Ireland handball title, and Araglin Junior C men’s footballers brought home a county title, to complete a fantastic year for the club.

Storm Barra brought the region to a standstill, and a truck overturned on the M8 demonstrated the severity of the wind. Kilbehenny’s Aoibheann Clancy was nationally recognised with an SSE Airtricity Award for Young Player of the Year.

Two monuments in Glenbrohane were unveiled to commemorate men killed by British Forces in 1920, and in Mitchelstown, there was some progress with new, more obvious, pedestrian crossings installed in Upper Cork Street near the partially collapsed building; notices were fixed advising the owner they had six weeks to demolish the building.

The Haven Hub opened its doors in mid-December, and the late Martina Meaney from Mitchelstown was remembered with the unveiling of a knitted ‘ Covid throw’ that she was involved in creating with the North Cork Knitters. The signing of the Treaty, 100 years ago, was marked locally by Kilworth’s Noel Scannell as he organised an event in Dublin.

Santa drive-by events took place across the region, as the man in red visited Killavullen, Glanworth, Shanballymore and Ballyporeen to name just a few, while performer Jack O’Rourke came to the Glengarra Mountain Lodge.

As the year came to a close, pharmacies were inundated with demands for booster vaccines, as hospitality and entertainment businesses were to shut their doors at 8pm due to the rising number of daily Covid cases. Waterford councillors called for a cull of Rudolph’s friends as the deer population in the county rose in the area. Meanwhile, the former Bank of Ireland premises went up for sale in Lismore.

The year ended with good news for Grange, as a land acquisition agreement was made for the development of a sports amenity. Further good news for Fermoy was hinted at, with hopes that St Francis’ Welfare Home would reopen after Christmas.

Lismore’s Lieutenant Brendan Prendergast reported from the Lebanon, as one of the many Irish troops stationed there, and Owen Ashton in Kilworth was crowned FBD Young Farmer of the Year. Fermoy’s Bernadette Barry was Bus Éireann’s Clerical/Executive Employee of the Month.

The year ended with the news of no money for road repairs to Patrick Street in Fermoy, and funds allocated for the N73 were nearly halved.

The Bride Rovers U14 girls landed the East Cork final title, and Doneraile jocley Darragh O’Keeffe was honoured with the ‘ Ride of the Year’ award for his skill in the saddle, closing out 2021.

2021 THE YEAR IN REVIEW

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The Avondhu (Ireland)