CAHIR NOTES by Maureen Calvert 7TH ANNUAL SENIOR CITIZENS’ PARTY The date for this great night’s entertainment is Friday 19th January in Cahir House Hotel, starting at 5:30 pm. This event is run by Cahir Gardai, Cahir Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch, and provides a wonderful beginning to the new year for everyone who attends.  And it isn’t just for Cahir people, but for anyone in the surrounding rural locality, and if you haven’t received an invitation, it is an oversight.  Look on this as your invitation.  If you need a lift to the event, ring Cahir Garda Station on 052 45630 and leave your name, address and phone number for Sergeant Butler, Garda Pat English, Dave Ryan or Paschal O’Dwyer.  They will arrange transport for you between 4 and 5pm on the evening, and are looking forward to seeing you there. CAHIR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOTTO As there was no Jackpot winner last week, the total going on to this week’s draw is €2,050. Tickets can be purchased up to the time of the draw, at noon on Wednesday, from the Business & Training Centre. The five Lucky Dip winners, each of whom received €30, were:  Rosie O’Regan, Pearse Street;  Ann O’Donnell, Clonmore;  Clogheen Community Council;  Ada McLoughlin, Mountain View Drive;  and Mossie Casey, Cahir Business Park. All the profits from the Community Lotto go to the Duneske Leisure Centre. CAHIR JUNIOR GAA With the new year now upon us, it is time to prepare for the new season ahead.  With this in mind, the Indoor Hurling for u-9s, 10s and 12s will resume in the Coláiste on Thursday 11th January. U-8s will start at 6:30 and finish at 7:15;  u-10s will start at 7:15 and finish at 8:00 and u-12s will start at 8 and finish at 9.  These times will have to be adhered to, so it will be important that children arrive and are collected on time. New players are always welcome. Please remember that there is a €2 cover charge.  On behalf of the Club, David McInery (their PRO) would like to wish everyone a happy and successful new year and let’s hope for a couple of trophies in the cabinet. DAMNING WITH FAINT PRAISE That is the phrase my (very wise) grandmother would have used to describe an e-mail I received on Monday.  While purporting to admire this page, the writer - who marked the missive “Personal” - listed a huge number of what he/she considers to be its shortcomings.  One of which was giving the names of youth teams in various sports, while going on to say that there is nothing to do in Cahir and that the town is dying. Where would these young people be if they weren’t playing sports? And having one’s name in the paper is such a small thing, considering the boost to morale it gives. Another complaint was about informing readers at to who had won what in the Community Lotto - the writer may not care, but a lot of others do, let alone that everyone  receives a salutory reminder that it is run by the hardworking Cahir Development Association to raise funds for Duneske ... And then there was the request for a Births, Marriages and Deaths Column - whether in this paper or on the Community Website is a moot point.  If someone would supply the information, the manager of the website would be delighted to put it up and has been offering to do so for years, along with any other news - free of charge.  All offerings to be sent to info@cahirda.com And of course, the fact that I only write obituaries for friends comes in for a mention.  This is because, when I have tried to do so for others, there has been so much ensuing grief from relatives not named, or information incorrectly given, that I decided to quit, even if I wasn’t ahead.  Any obituaries that are sent in to me are forwarded to the paper and I know they are used whenever possible, but it must be accepted that there is a limit to the available space. Another of my sins, apparently, was failing to report to the County Council the missing railings that were replaced by a concrete wall outside the former bar in Bridge Street. Why me?  I am worn out with years of protesting and working and trying to get things done in and for Cahir. Do it yourself, my bold correspondent.  You are the one who is bored, or so you say.  I don’t think I have had a boring minute since I came here. POULMUCKA & DISTRICT PLOUGHING ASSOCIATION The Club’s Annual General Meeting was held in December in Moloney’s Lounge in Poulmucka. The meeting was very well attended and the following Officers were elected:  Chairman - Mark Halley;  Secretary - Sean Hickey;  Treasurer - John Casey Jnr;  PRO - John O’Brien. A vote of sympathy was passed to William O’Donnell on the death of his mother Greta, RIP. The Chairman congratulated the ploughmen who competed in the National Ploughing Competition, and wishes the Club the best for 2007. No ploughing matches were held recently due to the Nitrates Directive.  Bridget Moloney is thanked for the lovely refreshments that were provided on the night. The Club is holding its Annual Dinner Dance in Cahir House Hotel on Saturday 3rd February.  Tickets are €30 each and are available from any Club member. With live music and spot prizes, a good night is guaranteed. SOUTH TIPPERARY HOSPICE On behalf of the Hospice, Alice Ward would like to thank Cahir Lions Club for the donation of €1,000, and also E Buttimer & Co for donating €800 and Niall Morison and his girlfriend Susan for their donation of €866. BILL PARFREY VISITING CAHIR It is very much hoped that Bill Parfrey will be well enough to attend a signing of his excellent book “Healing - My Own Story” in Chapter One at lunchtime on Wednesday - publication day.  Having read his book I really look forward to meeting him.  He has a great turn of phrase and is an entertaining and interesting writer. Alison Duffy of Mitchelstown Road, Cahir, who was recently awarded the Diploma for Pharmaceutical Technicians by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland at Trinity College, Dublin THE CRAFT GRANARY SALE This wonderful sale started on Monday, and the shop will be open from 10:30 to 6pm on week days. CONGRATULATIONS! Kim Connolly of Cahir was  married recently in the Parish Church to David O’Grady.  The reception was held in Aherlow House and they are honeymooning in Venice and Rome.  All the best to you both. LISA MARIE IN CAHIR The talk of the town recently has been the visit of Lisa Marie Presley and her entourage, when they took in - or rather took out - coffees and snacks from the Lazy Bean, and did a little shopping in Chapter One.  In fact it all sounds so normal, which I suppose is why celebrities love coming to Ireland - they get a chance to behave like ordinary human beings.  L M bought a few bits and pieces to entertain the children, and I understand they all love it here.  Brendan Looby was in the right place at the right time, and got a huge thrill out of being so close to The King - although he couldn’t bring himself actually to speak! While on the subject of visiting celebrities, Sean Cannon of The Dubliners was taken to The Shamrock Lounge by a relative for some “real food” and loved every minute of it.  Who says Cahir hasn’t got what it takes? MANY HAPPY RETURNS Nicola Downey and Rosemarie Neville have both had birthdays recently - many happy returns, and we will celebrate January’s and February’s birthdays next month, when everyone is back in Cahir. CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION The results of the Progressive 25 Card Game held on Friday 5th January are as follows:  1st with 13 games - Margaret Quinlan, Michael Phelan;  2nd with 12 games - Josie Quinlan, Joe Ahern. The Lucky Table Winners were Bob Condon, Ted Dillon, Anne Lonergan, Theresa Duggan.  The Raffle winners were Mary Whelan and John O’Connor. The next game will be on Friday 12th January at 8pm in the Catherine McAuley Room as usual, and all are very welcome. Many thanks to everyone for supporting this enjoyable social event.  “Don’t worry about middle age, you’ll outgrow it!”  CAHIR LIONS FASHION SHOW This highly successful fundraiser was covered last month, but I have been asked to include some thanks to people who were missed out, and so on. The Fashion Extravaganza and Beauty Evening was held in association with Cahir House Hotel, Tipperary Mineral Water, South Tipp Today and VIP Magazine.  The Lions wish to offer sincere thanks to Carol O’Brien for providing her support and the venue, once again. A special musical treat was a guest appearance by Liam O’Connor, who performed an extract from his acclaimed Irish Music & Dance Extravaganza.  He will be putting on the full show in the hotel in March. The sound and lighting was provided by Don Andrews and Jim Keane of Goldstar Productions, who also provided the stage and catwalk. Jackie Mullen, the President of Cahir & District Lions Club, presented cheques from the proceeds on the night to Ann Ryan on behalf of Children At Risk in Ireland (CARI), to Marie Byron on behalf of Cahir Chernobyl Outreach Group and to Alice Ward on behalf of South Tipperary Hospice.  The MC was Gerry Duffy, who thanked all of the exhibitors and the many local models who took time out to help raise much needed funds for local and regional charities that are doing great work in the Cahir area. There was also a bumper Raffle and Cahir Lions wish to thank all of the local businesses for providing the prizes and also for taking advertising space in the programme, which ensured the success of the event. The first meeting of 2007 for Cahir Lions is on Thursday 12th January in Cahir House Hotel at 8:30pm. All members are requested to attend and new members are always welcome. CAHIR MACRA The PRO sends a happy new year greeting to all members.  Congratulations to their Secretary, Lera Brett, on her recent engagement to Pat McCormack.  2007 will be a very busy year for her! There are a few events coming up in the next month or two:  a Carting Night, the Public Speaking and a Comedy Night in Clonmel.  The next meeting will be on Monday 22nd January in the Snug at Cahir House Hotel.