CAHIR NOTES WEDDING FAYRE EXTRAVAGANZA The elegant Cahir House Hotel was the venue for the Wedding Fayre held last Sunday. As if weddings didn’t supply enough romance, there was, of course, an emphasis on it being Valentine’s Weekend. There were some amazing displays of cakes, jewellery, stationery, photography and everything else a bride might need. My main interest was in the models, as seven of them were from “Maureen’s Models”. Luckily for us, Bernie O’Brien (New Age Photography) was there and took some lovely photographs of them. He even managed to make me look good, while doing some Lighting Tests - for which many thanks! The fashion show started with some of Stakelums of Thurles’ lovely outfits for the Mother of the Bride, her friends, and an evening dress which I adored that would have been great to take on honeymoon. These were followed by Sheehan’s of Cahir, who showed some lovely Mother of the Bride outfits and one or two for family friends. These were interspersed with Teresa Callaghan’s stunning hats, which had a model all to themselves, and one was worn with an outfit from Sheehan’s. Next up came Golden Threads. Margaret had decided to go for Honeymoon clothes and these were great fun - funky and relaxed and I could just imagine them being worn beside the sea, somewhere in the sun .   The accessories and shoes for the last two shops were from Interior Concepts in Cahir. (The shoe section is called Shoe Heaven, but it is easier to look for the Interior Concepts sign). The shoes in particular were so great that Derek Davis commented on them, and asked for another “turn”. The Finale was, of course bridal wear, from ………………………………......... Brides were provided with a wide choice of shapes and designs from which to choose and the Ballroom was full of ooohs and aaahs. Sarah’s Flower Studio provided her usual outstanding bouquets and I am sure Sarah will be delighted to hear that one was thrown into the audience. (I had contemplated doing this at the Charity Shop Show last year, but was afraid someone’s eye would be put out!) The Menswear shown was from Mister Mr of Mitchelstown, and their two models, who are becoming an essential part of these shows, are always terrific. Joe does take some slagging from Derek Davis, though. Derek Davis not only compéred the Show, but went round all the stands, talking to the owners and having his picture taken with them. Somehow, he always seems to manage to remember what he has been told, and the stallholders get great plugs from him during the Fashion Show.   To judge from the feedback from the stallholders and the Hotel, this Fayre was, once again, a great success. All credit to Jackie Mullins, Event Organiser extraordinaire, who always has something special up her sleeve and puts together events great and small with equal style and aplomb. This year I would really like to compliment Gold Star Productions who always provide a very professional set-up. The new catwalk is longer and wider than in the past and provides models with every opportunity to show the clothes to advantage. The lighting was great, too, so thanks very much. The one person without whom I would sink without trace is Maria Taylor, who is always so calm and efficient. She helps the models to change and get out onto the catwalk again in double quick time, also checking the accessories. Thanks so much, Maria. As can be seen from the photo's the quality of the clothes was excellant, and the models did them proud   TIDY TOWNS MEETING The next Cahir Enhancement / Tidy Towns meeting takes please next week, on Wednesday 25th February. Everyone who is interested in helping out in any way, with their own area or on a special project, is most welcome. A number of individuals and community groups have already got involved and the difference is obvious to all in the huge points awarded in the national competition last year. And also, of course, in the overall appearance of Cahir. The Cahir Area Office and officials of South Tipperary County Council are heavily involved and are always represented at these meeting. The meeting on 25th will focus on Updates from the Last Meeting; New Projects and Other Issues. If you have any queries or want to know more, please contact Paul Mulcahy at the Cahir Area Office on 052 68900. CAHIR FLOWER & GARDEN CLUB The trip to Bunratty Castle takes place on Saturday 21st February. The bus will be leaving the Castle Carpark at 7pm and all those who are going are asked to be on the bus by 6:45pm. The February Monthly Meeting will take place in Cahir House Hotel on Wednesday 25th at 8pm. There will be a talk on shrubs and some slides will be shown by John Murphy. CAHIR DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY LOTTO With the Jackpot total standing at €5,200 for the Draw this week there is, of course, an increased interest around the town. It is possible to buy tickets up to the very last minute - noon on Wednesdays - from the Business & Training Centre. //* The five Lucky Dip winners last week, after the Draw witnessed by Peter Fahey produced numbers: 5, 9, 12, 14, were: Teresa McLoughlin, Woodview, Cahir; Bridget MaRY Connolly, Castlequarter, Ardfinnan; Jerry Duffy, The Homestead, Cahir; Patrick Ryan, Carrigataha, Cahir; and Aine & Padraig Roche, Abbey Street, Cahir. The profits from the Community Lotto service community projects in Cahir. CAHIR CLINICS I hear from Tom Hayes TD that he will be holding Clinics all around the greater Cahir area on Friday 20th February - this Friday. Details of place and time follow: Grange - 2pm - Hall;  Goatenbridge - 3pm - Glenview Lounge;  Clogheen - 4pm - Nedeen’s;  Ballyporeen - 5pm - Sean Kearney’s;  Burncourt - 6pm - Old Shanbally Bar;  Skeheenarinky - 7pm - Hall;  Cahir - 8pm - Galtee Inn. That’s some schedule! HERE ARE MARIA TAYLOR’S NOTES FOR THIS WEEK: THANK YOU Councillor Seanie Lonergan would like to thank Cahir Lions Club for their annual donation to the Cahir Defibrillator Group. These donations are greatly appreciated and badly needed. If anyone else would like to make a donations, they can do so through an account that has been specially opened in Cahir Credit Union. KILCORAN WEDDING FAIR Just a reminder to everyone that Kilcoran Lodge Hotel will be holding its Wedding Fir this coming Sunday, starting at 2pm and finishing at 5pm. Admission is free. So why not go along, meet the exhibitors, get plenty of advice and perhaps book your wedding, etc. CAHIR COUNTRY MARKET The Market is open every Friday morning in the Community Hall from 9 to 11am. Here you can buy all your fruit and vegetables; homemade breads, cakes, pies, preserves and jams; fresh and dried flower arrangements and you can also get handmade gifts and cards. HAPPY BIRTHDAYS Belated Happy Birthday to Nigel Lisle, who celebrates his birthday on Valentine’s Day, with love from his wife Cristina and all his family and friends. Happy Birthday also to Isabel Chamberlain who was 4 years old on 16th February. Lots of love from Mum, Shane and all your family and friends. CAHIR HOUSE HOTEL Thank you to Cahir House Hotel for a lovely evening, when we went there on Valentine’s Night. Not only was our meal very good, but I got a red rose and a glass of champagne too. GET WELL SOON Best wishes for a speedy recovery are extended to John Morrison, who is recovering from an accident while on holiday with his wife Yvonne. We are all thinking of you. SYMPATHIES Sincerest sympathies are extended to both the O’Brien family and the Darcy family on their losses after a horrific accident claimed the lives of two young men from Cahir. I would like to send our condolences to John O’Brien’s family, who have long been family friends; to his parents Liam and Maureen; to his partner Sally; to his brothers and sisters, Rose, Hugh, Norman and Caroline and their partners, all his nephews and nieces and all of his extended family and friends. May you find comfort in each other. Deepest sympathies also to the family of Mark Darcy, to his parents Geraldine and Mark; to Amy O’Keefe and their son; to his brothers and sisters and all of his extended family and friends. AR DHEIS DE GO RAIBH SIAD  The Management and Staff of the Duneske Sports & Leisure Centre also wish to express their sympathies to both John O’Brien’s family and Mark Darcy’s family. THANK YOU, MARIA. POULMUCKA FIANNA FÁIL CUMANN The recent AGM of this Cumann was held in Moloney’s Bar on s5th February. They had a large attendance and welcomed the newcomers. Some new appointments were made: Mr Dick O’Donnell is the new President of the Cumann, taking the place of his late brother, Denis; Mr Donal Moloney takes over as Vice President; Mr Larry Molan is Chairman and Mr Michael Barrett held onto the Secretary’s position; Mr Mick Quinn is the new Vice Chairman. All other positions remain the same. Mr Mattie McGrath TD spoke on a number of current issues and distributed some easy-to-understand leaflets on the present state of the economy. It was great to see Cllr Michael Anglim in good form and showing his support at the AGM. Cllr Andy Moloney spoke on local issues, including the recent flooding in Poulmucka. The Cumann would also like to congratulate Cllr Moloney on his recent success with the Duneske Project winning an award in Dublin. The Cumann and its members are encouraged to work together to secure the Council seat for Cllr Moloney in the June local elections. Votes of sympathy were passed, and once again a big thank-you is expressed to John and Bridget for the refreshments provided. CONCERT IN GRANGE This is just a reminder about the concert taking place this Saturday 21st February in Grange Hall. Kate Purcell, singer-songwriter and Ted Ponsonby, (dobro and acoustic guitar, ) will be playing. Tickets are available at €15, which includes cheese and wine, and are available from the Ticket Hotline 087 632 0988; Grange Shop and in Burncourt from Maureen Creed’s shop.  Kate Purcell performed for South Tipperary Rural Arts Group last year in Duhill Hall and was very well received.  Kate is an accomplished singer/ songwriter and her programme is a mix of folk and traditional.  she has played extensively around Ireland, her most recent being in Vickers Street.  She has released three albums "A Dream Unfolds", which include the hauntingly beautiful "You never Said Goodbye", "Shadows of You", with old favourites such as "Goodbye Johnny Dear", and her recently released album "Independent Soul".  As a support act to Kate Purcell, local singer/songwriter Seamus Hennessy from Ballyporeen will provide the lead into what promises to be a night of top calss entertainment. CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION Here are the results of the weekly card game: First, with 12 games - Pascal O’Dwyer/Michael Tobin; Second, with 11 games - Rupert Guiry / Ted Dillon. The Lucky Table prize was won by Mary Whelan / Billy Tarrant, and the Raffle by Paddy Holleran. Deposits are now being taken for the trip to Spain and can be given to Ros and Fogarty’s Travel, Cahir. TRAINING FOR MODELS TO RESTART “Maureen’s Models”, set up over a year ago to train models who will work at no charge for Charity Shows, will recommence training sessions on Sunday week, 1st March in Cahir House Hotel at 3pm. There is no charge to join the Agency or for training, and I am most grateful to the management of the Hotel for allowing us to train there, also at no charge. In the last year, the girls and children have gained experience on catwalks long and short (!) and fundraising committees are turning to Maureen’s Models more often for our help. I would be very pleased to see new would-be models on 1st March, of all ages, but particularly twenty- and thirty-somethings. There is work for all ages and most sizes - currently I have adult models on my books from size 6 to size 20 and from teens to sixties. Four of them are six feet tall, which is great, but for local shows it is not as essential as it would be in, say, London. So don’t worry about anything, just come along and see if you enjoy yourselves. If you don’t, there is no point in going any further - life is too short. A great plus for this year is that Bernie O’Brien of New Age Photography has offered to give a training session especially for modelling for photographs. This will be in a few weeks’ time. Only models that are signed up by then will be able to attend, or we will be swamped. I look forward to catching up with everyone who is already signed up and to meeting lots more of you. LIBRARY SERVICES UPGRADE Cllr Andy Moloney has received word back from the Director of Services that funding has been identified to carry out works on Cahir Library. In the wake of the closure of the Court Services last year, Cllr Moloney moved to have an upgrade of the Library and engaged with the Chief Librarian on his proposals. A state-of-the-art Library in a town with a 24% increase in population since the previous census, and a Colaiste of over 700 students would be of great benefit to the community. Now more than ever, in these challenging times, we need to have educational and study facilities available to the public. Plans have been submitted to the Housing Section, which will Project Manage, and three potential Architectural firms have had a Brief circulated to them. Hopefully, there will be news back in March. The Councillor regrets the closure of the Court Services, but says that if the proper benefits are got from this facility, then it might minimise the needs for the courts down the line. Cllr Moloney intends to follow up on this development and see that Cahir gets its Library upgrade. READERS’ NEWS & VIEWS I am sure readers are aware, now that both Maria Taylor and myself are very pleased to hear from them with their news, comments and whatever. Maria can be reached on 086 102 2014 and I am at 10 Market Yard / 086 840 5020 and at the e-mail address above. There will be lots of photos on the website this week: www.cahirnews.cahirda.com, so that models who want their friends and family to see them all can tell them where to look. Some of my correspondents are still sending in their news in ultra-small type that is making me go even more blind that I was already. Please increase the size - it’s not brain surgery. Ask a child if you can’t do it yourself.