CAHIR NOTES Wednesday 21s February BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Daffodil Day is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year.  It is the Irish Cancer Society’s major fundraising day and supports cancer patient care and information services across the country.  To mark the occasion, a ‘Birthday Party’ was held at the River House Café last Saturday, 17th February.  Eileen O’Sullivan, Regional Coordinator, and Jill Clark, Irish Cancer Society’s National Fundraiser, officially  launched Daffodil Day in South Tipperary and the celebration was attended by some of the wonderful workers and friends of the Society. It is their dedicated work that enables the Irish Cancer Society to reach their targets every year. While a beautiful birthday cake was enjoyed by all, Donal Burke spoke about the fact that over the previous 20 years, almost €250,000 had been raised by the local Cahir group alone.  This would not have been possible without the kind support not only of the workers but of everyone who donated on the day. Jill Clark described how the tremendous public support for the Daffodil Day Campaign allows the delivery of programmes that prevent cancer, saves lives from cancer and helps people who are facing cancer to cope and maintain the highest possible quality of life.  Funding contributes to the Hospice Foundation Home Care / Specialist Palliative Care Nurses’ Service that provides vital support for families who are nursing a seriously ill relative with cancer at home. The Irish Cancer Society provides funding for cancer nurse education and also confidential information and advice to those worried about any aspect of cancer. Some novel fundraising ideas were mentioned for Daffodil Day - 23rd March - and everyone is looking forward to them with considerable anticipation. Many thanks were expressed to Sheena Buttimer and her staff for the refreshments they provided. The ICS relies on its volunteers to take to the streets and sell daffodils every year.  If you care to join the bunch please contact Donal at 052 41228.   BUSY DAYS AT THE CRAFT GRANARY On Thursday 1st March an exhibition of landscape photographs by Dick Doyle will open to the public.  The exhibition is entitled “Dawn ‘til Dusk” and includes some local scenes. Dick has a lifelong interest in photography and hopes that his work reflects his passion for the beauty that surrounds us.  He joined Clonmel Camera Club in 2004 and in November 2006 achieved a Distinction from the Irish Photographic Federation (LIPF).  This is his first exhibition and all the photographs are taken using an SLR camera. And here is a lovely way to ensure that you get a lovely “surprise” for Mother’s Day.  A children’s Craft Class will be held on Saturday 10th March from 10:30am to 12 noon.  Kids will get a chance to make a Mother’s Day card and a gift.  The class is suitable for ages 4 to 12 and places should be booked early on 052 43873 to avoid disappointment, as the class size is limited. The Craft Granary is open from 10:30am to 6pm Mondays to Fridays and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays. CAHIR FLOWER & GARDEN CLUB The next meeting of the Club will be held in Cahir House Hotel on Wednesday 21st February (publication day) at 8pm.  Hans Voss will be giving a talk on Pruning and the Cleaning of the Garden for Spring Planting. Old and new members alike are most welcome COLÁISTE NEWS Congratulations to 5th Year students Darragh Costello, Michelle Cleary and Natalie Pinto, who have been chosen to travel as helpers on the Waterford/Lismore Diocesan Pilgrimage in June. All Fifth Year students were invited to apply in writing and over thirty students were interviewed for the positions. Sports Update. Boys’ Basketball: The U-16 and U-19 teams will participate in matches against the Abbey, Tipperary and Lismore Community School after the mid-term break. Girls’ Basketball: 1st and 2nd Year students are taking part in the South East League. Ladies’ Football: Approximately nine students are currently training with the County Minor team. Boys’ Football: 1st Year boys’ and girls’ teams are training for the Munster and County competitions. Michael Hickey, Transition Year, is on the County Minor Football Team. Hurling: The U-16 team is preparing for the Munster campaign. The next match is against Askeaton. Soccer: Senior soccer players are training, in particular, for the Quarter Final of the Munster Youths Cup. The Team Coach is Patrick Cunningham. The U-14 team is training for the opening match against Comeragh College and for the opening fixture in the South East League. Camogie: The Coláiste Camogie team (1st and 2nd Year students beat Killenaule by 10.goals and five points on 18th January. This is the first round of the Tipperary Championship. Mr Keith Morrissey is the Team Coach. Golf: The Annual Inter-College Golf Challenge begins after the mid-term break. Rugby: Cormal O’Donnell and Ciaran O’Donnell, 2nd Year, have been selected for the East Munster U-14 squad. Music Sept: The College Choir is preparing for the Waterford Feis Choir Competition which will be held on Friday 23rd March. TABLE QUIZ The annual Cahir Park AFC Table Quiz will be held this Thursday, 22nd February at 9:30pm in the Castle Arms.  Seanie Lonergan will be the Question Master and tables cost €20 for four. There will be an Auction for two tickets for the Ireland - v - Slovakia match on the night.  This should add an extra dimension to the event! NATIONAL “MOVE FOR HEALTH” DAY The Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists will be launching a national “Move for Health” day on 5th March.  Local interest will be centred on Susan Foley who, with a colleague, will be visiting the local National Schools to give a talk/demonstration called “Hop, Skip and a Jump” to 10- to 12-year-olds, so that they will be informed about the importance of bone health and how to maintain it. WHAT’S ON AT DUNESKE? Although the staff at Duneske find it refreshing to see the amount of people still serious about making positive changes in their lives, there is lots on for those who are still contemplating a change of routine. All those who are preparing to look their best for impending Holy Communions and Confirmations, to say nothing of holidays, should pop up to see them and let them help you get svelte and ready. Rugby is going strong and another training session is being added at the weekend for those who may not be able to attend the weekday training. Contact Barry or Bridget for details. During the mid-term break there is plenty to do at the Centre. Soccer Gang runs every weekend for the n ext few months from 1 to 3pm every Saturday and it is just €2 to play for the hour and make new friends - a great way to hand out and use the pitches. For ages 6 to 13 years. The March sessions of Salsa Lessons and Salsarobics are filling up fast and names are being taken now, so get your name in now. Mid=term Activity Camp will run on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 22nd, 23rd and 24th of this month from 10am to 1pm - €8 per morning or €20 for the three days.  There will be loads of activities, dancing, arts & crafts and lots more. Having brought you Salsa - and everyone turned out to be amazing - now HONEYZ HIP HOP is on the way.  This is the ultimate Hip Hop Class where you can get superbly fit and look as if you mean business on the dance floor.  The classes start on Monday 26th March and run for eight weeks,. so get your name in now, before all the places are gone. Remember that Duneske is the place to go for any Groups who are looking for something different to do. Just contact Bridget and visits will be arranged along with the every popular Wellness talks brought to your group at any time.  Contact them on 052 45517 for more details. And while on the subject of Duneske, I had a very welcome telephone call from Breda Houlihan whose son Dylan’s 6th Birthday party was held there.  Breda asked me to express her thanks to all the staff, who were great and provided a super afternoon for Dylan - especially Jackie. TUESDAY NIGHT BRIDGE CLUB Results for 23rd January:  1st - Moira Carroll, Mary Kelly;  2nd Mai Geraghty, Ann Corbett;  3rd - Aileen Cashmne, Helen O’Gorman. Results for 30th January:  1st - Von Coffey, Mary Murphy;  2nd - Brid Roycroft, Teresa Curran;  3rd - Ita Mackey, Kay Fox. CAHIR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOTTO The numbers drawn last week were 1, 4, 12 and 14, witnessed by Peter Fahy, and there was no Jackpot winner.  The Five Lucky Dip winners, each of whom received €30 were:  Eddie Lonergan, Townspark, Paula Flynn, Main Street, Clogheen; Jonathan McDowell, Knockgraffon; Eileen Hennessy, Ballydrehid; Redmond Carroll, Carrigeen Cottages. The next draw takes place at noon this Wednesday, when the Jackpot will stand at €2,950.  It is possible to buy tickets up to the last minute from the Business & Training Centre, where the draw takes place.  All the profits from the Community Lotto go to the Duneske Leisure Complex. DID YOU KNOW? Here is some fascinating information, courtesy of the Citizens’ Information Centre. Telephone Allowances.  The Telephone Allowance Scheme will be extended t include mobile phones in April 2007. Companion Pass. The Companion Free Travel Scheme will be extended to include people aged 66 yo 74 who are certified as medically unfit to travelalone in March 2007. Maternity Benefit.  The Maternity Benefit Entitlement is to be extended to 26 weeks from 1st March 2007. There is also an option of an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave. Find out more about these issues and many other from the Citizens’ Information Centre, which is held every Wednesday morning from 10:30 to 12:30 in the new Cahir County Council Office, Erasmus Smith House, on the Cashel Road (next to St Paul’s Church).  This is an independent, free and confidential service for the entire community.  At all other times, you can phone Clonmel CIC at 052 22267. CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION Last week a number of leisure activities burst into the lives of the members of the Association.  A visit to the Duneske Leisure Centre was the setting for members to view the facilities.  After an interesting tour given by Bridget Ryan, numerous members agreed to take an eight-week course, commencing 21st February at 11am. Art Classes started last Tuesday, 13th, with many attending for the first time.  There are now two classes, a Beginners and an Advanced class. The results of the Progressive 25 Card Game held on Friday 16th February are as follows:  1st, with 11 games - Betty Collins, Mary E Fitzgerald; 2nd with 10 games - Peg Reidy, Hennery Reidy.  The Lucky Table winners were Masie O’Gradyd Ted Dillon, Kieron O’Brien, Red Burk, and the Raffle was won by Harry Tobin, Tom Morrissey. The next game will be on Friday 23rd February at 8pm and all are very welcome.  Many thanks to all for supporting this enjoyable social event. TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC & DANCE I was delighted to hear that several people from Clogheen attended the session last Saturday evening in Ballyduff, Co Waterford.   I understand that St Michael’s Hall was always known as the “Boulie House”, if that is the right spelling, and I am wondering what that means.  Can anyone help. please? SCARBOROUGH TRIP The visit to Scarborough has changed from the St Patrick’s weekend to the weekend leaving on Friday 20th April and returning on Monday 21st April - there is also a two-day option from Friday to Sunday, if requested. This should be a very enjoyable trip, where formality is at a minimum and fun is at a premium. The travel arrangements are as follows: Flights:  leaving Dublin Friday 20th at 12:10pm to Leeds Bradford   leaving Leeds Bradford Either Sunday 22nd or Monday 23rd at 13:35 to Dublin. Accommodation - Villa Esplanade Scarborough.  The package that is on offer at the moment allows for return flights plus three nights’ accommodation for as little as 150 for all three nights per person. (A rate for two nights can be negotiated on request). As the time gets closer, prices are likely to go up, so early confirmation of your booking is recommended. With this in mind, Tim Shanahan is taking booking deposits of €100 (non-refundable) up to Friday next, 23rd February.  After that prices are likely to change. Additional expenditure will include transfer from Leeds Bradford Airport to Scarborough and back, and there is an option on the hire of a tour bus for one of the days, where we can take in Heartbeat Country, Whitby and other beautiful surrounding areas. There is also the option of attending a five course meal with two seven-piece bands in aid of the Scarborough Children’s Trust (monies going to pay for their annual trip to Cahir next October) on the Friday night. Tim has all the details and is happy to plan your trip. He can be contacted at Cahir Enterprise Centre (052 42616 or on his mobile - 087 915 1896. Remember, this trip is open to all, and I am only devastated that I haven’t got my passport sorted out in time to go along - I have always had a fantastic time in Scarborough. ROCKWELL RUGBY NEWS - Ian Duffy, Rockwell College captain wins a lineouut in Munster SCT Q/Final defeat v. PBC at Musgrave Park, with team mates Brendan Cullinane, Edward  Kelly, Martin Feehan and James Ryan in support   READERS NEWS & VIEWS ... are always welcome at 10 Market Yard / 086 840  5020 and at the email address above.