CAHIR NOTES STRESS & STRAIN OF OLYMPICS I am amazed that I have managed to squeeze my job in between viewing the Olympics. Beijing has turned out to be very well placed, time-wise, and I am able to watch late into the night and from as early an hour as I can manage. So consider yourself lucky that you have anything at all to read about Cahir this week. RNLI CHURCH GATE COLLECTION Bob Johnson tells me that €725 was raised at the RNLI Church Gate Collections. Thanks are expressed to all who donated and those who helped out too. PAPER-MAKING WORKSHOPS I was delighted to hear from Maggie O’Malley-Brown recently as follows: “…We had a very enjoyable and interesting day [on 27th June], and I think those that attended left with a great feeling of accomplishment, as well as their beautiful creations! We were unexpectedly blessed with a beautiful sunny day and, as we all sat on the deck eating our soup, homemade bread and quiche (organic, of course!) I decided that it was a great way of getting people of like mind together. “The conversation and tips exchanged more than made up for being somewhat exhausted from creating such a wonderful display of pictures and designs, all hanging out to dry in the sun as we ate. A profuse amount of tea and coffee went down and people didn’t want to go home. “Because it was such a great success, I decided to have another workshop next Sunday, 24th August, from 11am to 4pm. This will cover some more advanced techniques with the paper-making, as well as the very basic starting methods for any beginners. My sister will be helping me and we hope to try some really interesting and new ideas this time. All are welcome”. Maggie can be contacted on nevarigam@eircom.net, 086 124 5577 or 062 72999. HOW GRANNY WAS TAUGHT TO SUCK EGGS I had a very welcome e-mail from James Moroney recently, gently pointing out that when I get e-mails in miniscule print, I can enlarge them myself before printing them. And he told me how. What a nice person! My working life has been transformed. Naturally I wrote back thanking him, and he then asked me to say hello to all his old friends in Cahir. He doesn’t get back as much as he used to since his mother died in ‘98. She was Eileen Moroney and after his father Tom died in ‘96 she moved from Knockgraffon to College Court. James, writing from the Isle of Man, thanked me for this column, saying “it makes a great difference to those of use who live away”. Thank you, James, and best wishes. Do get in touch next time you are home. CAHIR CAMOGIE CLUB A very young Junior B Cahir team headed off to Monroe last Thursday night for a meeting with the home Moyle Rovers side. Rovers, a very strong and experienced team, opened the scoring with a point from a free, followed by a second from a 65. The Cahir backs were under constant pressure in the opening half, but full back Nicola Armitage was working well under the pressure. Marion O’Donnell in goal, taking up that position for the first time, did exceptionally well with some great saves throughout the game. Up in the forwards, Jane O’Donnell was unlucky when her hand pass to the net was deemed to be thrown and a free out was awarded. Ashling O’Connor was making great runs at the goal and had a very well taken shot saved.  Moyle Rovers were leading 205 to no socre when Aoife Casey fired over Cahir’s opening score from a free. Clara Fahy and Claire O’Dwyer both had great efforts which just went wide of the posts, while Rovers notched up another goal just before half time. The second half saw an improved performance from the Cahir side and Aoife Casey latched onto a long free from the stick of Marie-Claire McCarthy to score a much deserved goal. Another good point from Clara Fahey finished the Cahir scoring. Rovers scored just one point in the second half to leave the final score 3-6 to Cahir’s 1-2. Every one of the panel of sixteen played well through the game, although Leaving Cert celebrations were evident!! Team: Marion O’Donnell, Shauna Walsh, Nicola Armitage, Sinead O’Donnell, Bronagh Higgins, Freda Casey, Catriona Nagle, Aoife Casey, AnnMarie O’Gorman, Clara Fahy, Marie-Claire McCarthy, Claire O’Dwyer, Ashling O’Connor, Jane O’Donnell, Aoife Burke, Donna Casey. The Cahir Club is hosting an U-10 Blitz on Saturday 23rd August. While hoping for a fine day, they are looking forward to a great morning’s event with the games to start at 11am. GREAT EXHIBITION AT THE CRAFT GRANARY Don’t miss the opportunity to see the fascinating exhibition by Roscrea-based sculptor Werner Groll. The twelve pieces are carved out of ten different types of timber and are well worth a visit. Musicians and dancers entertaining  the audience at the Community Centre, Clogheen DRAIOCHT IN CLOGHEEN Last Thursday I finally made it to the St Paul’s Community Centre in Clogheen to see this year’s production. Although difficult to believe, the production and performances are better every year, and just because you were there last year, don’t think that you will be bored - it is a great, and very different, show. The musicians are terrific, and the way they are situated at the side of the stage, and lit most sympathetically, gives a feeling of an informal sessiún. The dancers, from the tinies upwards, were excellent and the vocalist sang familiar and attractive melodies. There are still three performances to go - this Thursday, and Tuesday and Thursday of next week, so give them a ring on 086 224 3323 to book, as they are still performing to full houses - but don’t miss out! VANDALISM! I was shocked to hear that the beautiful tower of plants that were situated just outside the Castle was overturned and the plants destroyed over the weekend. When is everyone going to stop turning a blind eye and do something about the outrageous vandalism that is continually occurring in Cahir? There is no point in giving advice on protecting oneself from these lowlives (in the Castle, they were advised to put shutters on the outside!) or everyone will become afraid to move out of their bolted and barred homes - what is needed is a pro-active approach that will catch and incarcerate the guilty parties. The alternative is no picnic tables and seats; no wildlife signs; no open-air sculptures; no planting … no points in Tidy Towns … CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION The Day Tour took place on 13th August, when members and friends set out from Cahir to their first port of call at Russborough House, reputed to be the most beautiful house in Ireland. Indeed it proved to be a spectacular experience. The group then moved on to Powerscourt House and Gardens. Then came lunch at the Royal Hotel in Bray. And a lovely meal was enjoyed in pleasant surroundings. Compliments to the Manager and staff for their warm and friendly welcome. As new friends were made and old friendships strengthened, they set out for their home County. On the drive back the driver of the coach treated all of them to a maze of roads by the name of “The Red Cow Roundabout”. Go raibh milemaith agat. The Autumn Break to the Galway Bay Hotel takes plaes on 31st August. The Next Monthly Meeting will take place on Wednesday 10th September. The change of date is due to members being away on holiday. CAHIR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOTTO No Jackpot winner came out of the Draw last week, which was witnessed by Margaret Phelan. The numbers drawn were 1, 2, 12 and 16. The five Lucky Dip Winners, each of whom received €30, were: Ann Burke, Outrath; Patricia Shanahan, Cashel Road; Monica Costigan, Mortlestown; Paul & Imelda Mullins, Clogheen; Brenda Long, Barnora Crescent. The Jackpot total for this week is €1,600 and tickets can be bought up to noon on Wednesdays. The profits from the Community Lotto service community projects in Cahir. DEPUTY MC GRATH 1. Congratulating students, parents and teachers following the release of the Leaving Cert results for 2008, he said: “I would urge students and parents to think carefully about their options and to seek advice where they are uncertain”. 2.Deputy McGrath in a recent statement was severely critical of Department of the Environment officials regarding the on-going situation concerning the Burncourt Rural Water Scheme and the Fethard Rural Water Scheme. Substantial funds were first approved by the Department of ~Environment in 1998. Following his election to South Tipperary County Council in 1999, Mr McGrath has been pursuing the the Burncourt Scheme and is extremely dissatisfied with the lack of progress (none) in moving the scheme forward. To make matters worse, the Burncourt Rural Water Scheme and the Fethard Rural Water Scheme have been ‘bundled’ together with a total estimated cost off €18million. Deputy McGrath wants this situation reversed as, in his opinion, both schemes could be progressed faster in their own right. Concluding, Deputy McGrath said that in this day and age, houses and homes having to go without a proper water supply is not acceptable and he is asking that the schemes are progressed as soon as possible. 3. On the proposed closure of Moy Isover, Ardfinnan, Deputy McGrath said: “I am deeply saddened that after providing employment in the locality for many years, Moy Isover is proposing to close. The job losses which it will produce are a major blow for the workers directly affected, as well as their families and indeed the locality as a whole. I am calling on the company to commence a period of consultation with the employees and their representatives and I will be contacting the Tainaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment, Mary Coughlan TD to discuss the matter”. READERS’ NEWS & VIEWS Congratulations to all my correspondents this week - everything came in in good time - and now I can deal with the small print myself!