FINANCIAL STRIFE AS GALBALLY LOSES OUT OVER GARDEN FETE CANCELLATION

Galbally Community Council faces financial strife this year. Following a disappointing weekend when the council’s main fundraiser, the annual Garden Fete, was cancelled due to bad weather, the committee have revealed that their funds are, “at the lowest they have ever been”.

“We now have no money to carry on the day to day running of the community centre,” said Jim Fitzgerald, chairman.

“The Garden Fete has always been a very successful weekend and we were bitterly disappointed to have had to cancel it this Sunday. Last year it raised €8,000 for the community and this year we were banking on the money to keep everything going.”

On average, the centre costs €10,000 to run annually. However, grants from Ballyhoura Development and FAS have helped to keep the ship afloat. These grants can only be secured, however, if matching funds are presented. The community council also have major expenses in the upkeep of the village and the maintenance of the security system.

“We had planned this year that we would upgrade and make additions to the security camera system in the village along with doing some ground work in the sports field so people could use it as a community park. The funds we have now have means that we’ll get nothing done,” continued Mr Fitzgerald.

Last Sunday’s Garden Fete was to mark the 30th anniversary of the event and this was only the second time ever that it had to be cancelled due to bad weather.

“It’s been 14 years since we last had to cancel so we are not jumping the gun and saying we won’t hold one next year. However, we will have to re-asses whether or not it is worth investing so much time and money into organising outdoor events or festivals,” Mr Fitzgerald concluded.

The community council is hoping to organise a special night in lieu of the Garden Fete to be held in a local indoor facility in the coming weeks. Notice will be given in plenty of time and community members are asked to please support. The local parish hall is the only location available to the community to host events and recently the community council started to encourage people to use the venue for their events.

“It is a fine facility with modern amenities and would be ideal for people wanting to host community events or fundraisers. Already we have booking for table quizzes and it is often used for post-funeral functions and meetings, however, we would really like if it could also be used more for local concerts, events and meetings,” continued the chairman.

While last weekend’s event did not go ahead much work had taken place behind the scene and a special word of thanks has gone to everyone who helped in any way.

“Every year the local ICA group bake buns and cakes and make tea for everyone at the fete. Considering we only cancelled just hours before it was going to start, the women still had loads of baking done and I would like to thank them for feeding us regardless of the outcome,” he said before adding thanks to Theresa Lee, Carol O’Brien and Peggy Ryan as well as all the hard working committee.

A special presentation was made on the day to John Barrett who was the original brainchild behind Galbally Garden Fete and has produced the event every year for the past 30.

KATIE TAYLOR TO OPEN NEW BOXING CLUB

Ireland’s latest boxing phenomenon, Katie Taylor, is expected to officially open Fermoy’s newest boxing club in the coming week.

Taylor, reigning European and World champion could be bound for Olympic glory and it is currently thought she will be in Fermoy in a couple of weeks to open the club which will start training shortly.

Under the direction of Pa and Timmy Flynn, familiar faces in local boxing circles, the new club will be training at the CMWS Hall on Fermoy’s main street from 7pm next Monday evening.

“The club welcomes boys and girls from age 8 upwards this week for training. We will be starting at 7pm and any children interested are welcome to come along,” said Pa Flynn, PRO for the new club.

“We will be training three night a week (Monday, Tuesday and Friday) and have recently purchased lots of new equipment and gear including mitts and punch bags and we are excited about the new project.”

Timmy Flynn, who is a qualified coach, will be training all the youths attending. Further details can be got from Timmy on 086 3741024, Teresa Flynn (Secretary) 086 3202295, William Hughes (Treasurer) 087 9474875.

Any local businesses wishing to sponsor the club are also welcome to contact the above numbers.

FERMOY SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS GET A LIFT WITH OPENING OF ALL WEATHER PITCH

Sports enthusiasts in the Fermoy region will be delighted this week to learn that the new astro-turf all weather pitch at Loreto Secondary School is finally open.

Following months of meetings, fundraising efforts and hard work from many volunteers, the pitch has been finished and members of the community are now welcome to hire the facility for games or training.

The new community amenity is the combination of hard work from a consortium of the Fermoy Community Sports Project, the school’s board of management and Fermoy Hockey Club and has cost in the region of €700,000 to complete.

“It’s wonderful to have the facility finally ready for the school and local community,” said Mary Ryan, school principal.

“The school hall, which was opened in 2003, has become a hub for local activity after school hours and we are hoping the pitch will become the same. Already we have been getting calls about bookings, so we encourage anyone interested to get in touch.”

Plans for the facility were first initiated in the 1970s when the school, together with the local community, decided to put in place an all-weather pitch. The new floodlit pitch unveiled this week is a significant improvement on the original plan.

The pitch can be rented as a complete unit or in specific sections from 086-7339394.

GARDA MICHAEL ALWAYS WENT THAT EXTRA MILE

While recruitment to An Garda Siochana has been very intense for the last number of years, it has had to be given the large numbers retiring from the force. All these men and women have done the State considerable service and deserve their time away from the demands of policing.

Watergrasshill garda, Michael Reidy has retired from the force and a massive crowd of colleagues, relatives and friends gathered in the Midelton Park Hotel last Friday night to say a heartfelt thank you to a man who embodied all that is good about the traditional, unarmed, community grounded police officer.

Accompanying Michael was his wife, Nora, daughter Michelle and son Christopher. The tributes were sincere and accurate for a man who throughout his career went the extra mile when it came to looking after the people on his beat - so much so that at one stage, the medical advice was to ease off. He accepted the advice, took his sabbatical and returned to duty more energised and enthused than ever.

Outside his garda duties Michael Reidy took a keen interest in community affairs in Watergrasshill. He was a members of the community council, community care and community alert. He was very active in the building of Watergrasshill’s new community centre and took a keen interest in all the voluntary associations, especially the GAA and scouts. In his speech last Friday night, Michael said that the behaviour of young people in Watergrasshill was exceptional.

Tributes from An Garda Siochana were led by Chief Superintendent Kieran McGann – among others. Chief Supt. McGann said Michael had given exemplary service to the community and was a credit to the force. His relationship with local people was excellent and the respect he commanded was immense.

Difficult and mundane duties were approached in an ultra professional manner and even without being called upon he was more than happy to lend assistance to neighbouring garda units in Glanmire and beyond, Chief Supt. McGann remarked.

In thanking all those who had made the occasion so special, Michael singled out his own family for their unstinting support. He identified Sgt. Michael Casey as a fantastic colleague and thanked all those who he had served alongside.

He praised John Desmond for joining the Garda Reserve and wished his replacement Garda Kieran Cronin all the best. He also took time to wish another colleague, Garda Padraig King (Glenville) a full recovery.

MC for the occasion was Pat Hegarty.

MITCHELSTOWN INITIATIVE FOR BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS

Mitchelstown Forum, in association with the Rubicon Enterprise Centre at Cork IT, is to launch a new programme to help budding entrepreneurs’ get their businesses off the ground.

The Enterprise START Programme is set up to offer business advice to potential entrepreneurs to assist them in developing their ideas into a tangible business plan.

The programme, which will run over 6 consecutive weekends (six Friday evening and five Saturday morning), offers a realistic market-place perspective on what is involved in creating a competitive and sustainable commercial enterprise.

The entire programme will be delivered by the Rubicon Centre, CIT who have been retained by FAS.

Speaking to The Avondhu, Mitchelstown Forum chairman, Tom Whelton, welcomed this programme and is looking forward to working with the Rubicon Centre and FAS to ensure its success.

“The Forum is very grateful for the assistance of Living Health in providing their stat-of-art facilities while FAS have provided the funding for the programme. Mitchelstown is one of the only centres where programme is being rolled out this year which is a major coup for us. We are very optimistic that both business people and those with business ideas will take their place on this course and maximise the opportunity that this programme offers,” Tom Whelton said.

The programme will have a minimum of academic involvement with each topic being presented by business people and entrepreneurs with specific expertise in starting and developing new businesses.

Mitchelstown Business Development Manager said, “Enterprise START will help the entrepreneur make decisions regarding the feasibility of their idea and give insights into the essential elements involved in creating a new enterprise. This programme will also suit business owners with several years experience and will help them to re-evaluate their plans and see how the business as a whole can be sustained or improved during the current economic climate.”

There are 12 places available on this course and recruitment for the programme has already commenced, so early registration is advised. Anyone interested in getting further information or if they wish discuss any aspect of the course should contact Paul Swift at 087-2723377 or click on www.rubiconcentre.ie

LOYALTY CARD A BIG HIT WITH LOCAL SHOPPERS

The Mitchelstown loyalty shopping card scheme got off the ground this week with some customers half way to filling their cards already.

The scheme, which sets out to encourage shoppers to shop local and support local jobs, got underway with retailers reporting excellent support from their customers. Ger Moylan of the Mitchelstown Business Association (MBA) is delighted with the response to the shopping card scheme.

“The loyalty card is proving very popular with retailers and customers alike. It won’t be long before we will have our first draw for all those customers who have completed their cards. It is very encouraging to see more people choosing to shop in Mitchelstown and support local jobs,” he told The Avondhu.

Mitchelstown retailers are also seeing the benefits of the loyalty card.

“We have had a great response to the card here in the shop, some of our customers have almost filled their cards already and it is great to see that people are supporting their community by shopping locally,” Margaret Hyland of The Favourite/The Scullery said. Customers at the Centra Supermarket have also responded well to the new card scheme.

“Our customers have embraced the new scheme and, as an incentive, we are giving a €5 gift voucher to all those who get involved,” Sean Farrell told The Avondhu.

At Rosemarie Walsh’s shop, Off the Rails, customers are delighted with the discounts that the loyalty card brings when shopping in Mitchelstown.

“Shopping locally is much more economic these days if you take into account petrol costs, car park charges and tolls. The Loyalty Card supports local businesses and this, in turn, supports local jobs,” Rosemary said.