CAHIR NOTES ALL CHANGE! It is getting difficult even for locals to keep up with the changes that are going on in Cahir at the moment. For instance, the Castle Court Hotel closed its doors on Monday and at the time of writing I don’t know what the future of this long-established hotel is to be.  Kevin Curry renovated the building to a high standard, and it will be a loss to the town if it does not re-open, under whatever ownership. I do know, however, that the new Italian restaurant, La Famiglia, which is on the hotel premises, is to remain open.  The restaurant is approached from the side entrance, so the closing of the Castle Court will not effect it. While on the subject of the restaurant, readers may be interested to know that it is owned by Sandro Talossi, who is married to Maria Shine’s sister Rose. The long-term future of the weekly Bingo, which has been doing so well at the Castle Court, is up in the air, although the organisers are able to continue where they are at the moment. They are particularly grateful for all the support they have received from local businesses. I know that a lot of people will be delighted that Irwin’s is open again, and is being run by someone whose family has long connections with the pub. Jason Maher’s great-grandfather served his time there, when it was a bar, grocery and hardware shop. (I wonder how many people have noticed that Mary Irwin’s brass yard measure has been preserved and is set into the bar beside the stairs?) Another change has taken place, this time at The Heritage, where you can now fax in your orders so that they are ready for collection (052 42730) and they have added Smoothies to the list of drinks supplied at this shop on the Square.  Also, they are now able to cater for office or site meetings.  The interior has been changed completely and is much easier to navigate, as well as looking very smart.  I understand that there will be chairs and tables outside in the warmer weather, too - this makes the centre of Cahir look very inviting. UNCHANGING QUALITY Something that never changes is the quality of the produce at Cahir Country Market, held on Friday mornings from 9:30am in the Community Hall.  There are wonderful home-baked goods, fresh produce, home made jams, marmalades and chutneys, plus fresh local honey and BallyCarron Jewellery and Cards.  And of course, time must be made for that essential cuppa and a chat. THANKS The James Hennessey Fianna Fail Cumann would like to thank everyone who turned up to the Castle Court Hotel on Friday 19th February to support the Mattie McGrath Rally. Mattie hopes to meet you all during his forthcoming canvass. WHAT’S ON AT DUNESKE? Two weeks ago, Duneske Rugby Squad played two of the best games of juvenile rugby some of the watchers had ever seen.  Kilfeacle came to Cahir and the boys and girls of Duneske put up a brave battle on their first ever outing.  Both Barry and Bridget are so proud of them all and want to say “thank you” to all the parents and fans of the game who went along in support. The next game will be against Clanwilliam in a few weeks.  Watch this space, as all rugby fans are advised to go along and support Cahir’s under-12s.  It is not too late to get involved and training goes on every Tuesday at 3:30pm at just €3 per child.  Weekend Beginner training will start in the next week or so too. Soccer Gang started last weekend and runs every weekend for the next few months from 1 to 3 pm every Saturday, costing €2 to play and meet new friends - a great way to hang out and use the pitches.  The Gang is for 6 - 13 year-olds. Salsa is going strong and another session will be running in the next month or so. However, Salsarobics will be starting soon  and names are being taken for it now.  A great way to get fit while practising some moves! The Weight Management Club  is doing incredibly well.  New people are welcome to go along and join any time they want. As the mid-term break is nearly here, Kids’ Activity Mornings will be organised, so keep any eye out for details.  There will be loads of games, activities and fun right throughout. Because of the amazing demand for the January Special on Membership, the date of the offer has been extended to 14th February - Valentine’s Day - just to show everyone how much they care. As mentioned last week, Chairobics is on offer at only €6 for a four week session, so sign up now and after class enjoy a coffee on the management.  Telephone 052 45517 for information on any of the above. SPECIAL OLYMPICS BENEFIT The Coffee Day organised by Marian Duffy last Saturday was a huge success, and raised a very satisfactory €1,525.  Some work has been done on the house recently, providing lots of very attractive space inwhich to move around, sit and relax and chat or whatever.  And the food was fantastic. Marian has asked me to thank everyone who contributed in any way as well as all those who helped. However, very special thanks go to John Hurley, the Manager of Superquinn in Clonmel, for his support. CAHIR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOTTO Another week has gone by without the Jackpot being won, so the total going on to this week is €2,650.  Tickets can be bought from the Business & Training Centre up to noon on this Wednesday, 7th February, when the Draw takes place.  Last week’s numbers, witnessed by Rene Hayes, were 1, 4, 12 and 20. The five Lucky Dip winners, each of whom received €30, were Con O’Brien, Clonmore;  Pat Nugent, Toureen;  David O’Connor, Bengurrah House; Aliben O’Hara, Mountain Road and Deirdre O’Brien and Patricia Ryan, c/o J Quirke Jewellers. All the profits rom the Community Lotto go to the Duneske Leisure Complex. CASHEL BRANCH, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL The February meeting will take place on Monday 12th in Mikey Ryan’s pub in Cashel at 8:30pm. I gather that existing members were encouraged when myself and another new recruit turned up in January.  Anyone who is interested in Human Rights or in the work of Amnesty International can go along on Monday night in the full knowledge that they will receive a very warm welcome.  For more information you can ring Nuala on 052 62987. Support for the Friendship Bracelets has been very generous and the boxes will be moved to new sites this week, in the hope that they will be seen by even more people. MOBILE MAKE-UP - ? There is a new business in town, run by Teri Chamberlain, for which she travels to her clients to provide hair styling and make-up in their homes.  Teri trained in England, and her service has already attracted a lot of interest.  She can be contacted at “Medusa” on 086 062 2985. CAHIR BOYS’ NATIONAL SCHOOL Due to rising costs over the years as well as dropping enrolments up to 2006, the school has had difficulties meeting its basic running costs. Increased grants were negated by the coinciding drop in enrolments, rising costs and maintenance of old buildings. Consequently, the school is make a once-off appeal to past pupils asking for donations. A donation exceeding €250 in the form of a Deed of Covenant is eligible for tax relief.  In the case of a self-employed contributor, the donation is tax deductible.  In the case of a PAYE workers the school can claim a tax rebate as a charitable organisation. Any donation, of course, is most welcome.  Letters have been sent to many past pupils and  all those who have already helped the school in its current situation are thanked most heartily.   Each contributor will be replied to personally.  If you have received a letter, or if it is at your homeplace in Cahir, you are asked to consider the once-off appeal.  The decision to run this form of fundraiser was not taken lightly and is a reflection of the need. The necessary Bank details are:  Account Number 53927336;  Sorting Code 90-59-34;  IBAN:  IE 76 BOFI 9059 3453 9273 36;  Certificates for Tax Relief can be obtained directly from the school and have been posted to past pupils in residence in Ireland.  CLLR MC GRATH WELCOMES ROADS FUNDING Cllr Mattie McGrath has welcomed the funding announced by the Department of Transport & the Environment, for Traffic Calming and Accident Remedial Measure Schemes throughout South Tipperary. Cllr McGrath is particularly pleased that the Council has received €400,000 towards road pavement overlay and €200,000 towards traffic calming, Phase 2, for the Tipperary Road, N24 Cahir in the 2007 allocations.  He hopes that this funding will allow for the completion of the works that commenhced in 2006. Cllr McGrath is also very pleased that a further €30,000 has been allocated for the completion of the works at the dangerous “Moll’s Cross” Junction on the Clonmel Road, N24, Cahir. CREDIT UNION QUIZ The  Credit Union held its Schools’ Quiz on Friday 26th January.  This went off very well, with good support.  Cahir Boys’ NS won the Team A Quix and Clogheen School won the Team B Quiz.  Congratulations to them all and well done Cahir Boys, who now go on to the next round, probably in Waterford, representing South Tipperary. The Team comprised Kieran Tobin, Joey Doverman, Kevin Griffin, and Luke Cagney with Craig Cashman as the Sub. Congratulations too to the girls of Our Lady of Mercy, whose team were runners up to Clogheen. LADIES’ NIGHT OUT! Ladies, do you need a break from the house, the Soaps and the children on a Friday night? Well, a group of ladies are playing Soccer at Duneske at 8:15pm every Friday - nothing serious, just a bit of exercise and a laugh.  If you fancy joining, just drop by any Friday night as new faces will be made most welcome.  If you have any enquiries, give Deirdre a ring on 086 396j 4070. CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION The results of the Progressive 25 Card Games held on Friday 2nd February are as follows:  1st, with 13 games, Peg Reidy, Kitty Slattery;  2nd with 12 games, Josie Quinlan, Joe Ahern.  The Lucky Table winners were Rupert Guiry, Paddy O’Sullivan, Ciss O’Neill and Mary English (Barnora). The Raffle was won by Anne Hanrahan and Michael Phelan.  The next game will be this Friday, 9th February. The Monthly Meeting will take place this Wednesday 7th February at 2:30pm in the Catherine McaAuley Room, when there will be music and refreshments on hand, along with plenty of fun. New members are always most welcome. SPONSORED HERITAGE TRAIL Although there was very little physical support from the town, the sponsored walk in aid of the Irish Cancer Society that was organised by Alan Hally raised a healthy €555.  I received a very entertaining e-mail from Alan with the details of the walk, muck and all and what stood out was the fact that they were all horrified at the vandalism that has already been committed at the Dovecote.  I suppose I will have to go and have a look. Alan would like to thank Grainne O’Donnell and Patrick Conlon, who helped out with the last-minute preparations, also Marie Brennan and Aoife Lawlor, who took their Sunday afternoon off and helped and joined in the walk.  Indeed, thanks all round, and well done Alan. SHINING BRIGHTLY! Past students of the Coláiste Mairead Morrissey and Tommy O’Donnell were recipients of Cidona Sports Awards presented in the Minella Hotel on 27th January. Mairead represented Ireland in the Irish International Rules series against Australia last Autumn. During her time in Coláiste Dún Iascaigh, Mairead won an All Ireland medal for basketball.  She was part of the tham that won the County Tipperary Junior Football Championship and went on to form part of the College team that won the County Tipperary Senior Football Championship. Tommy appeared with the Irish team in rugby’s U-19 World Cup in Dubain.  He played rugby, basketball and football in the Coláiste and represented the College in the U-18 football team that reached the All Ireland B final in 2005.  Tommy plays on 9th February in the Irish U-29 Squad against Wales in Athlone.  This will be televised - see the press for details. Every at the Coláiste was very proud to read the advice given by Marian Duggan. Marian received an A1 in Social and Scientific and was featured in the Irish Times Study Supplement last Tuesday. CAHIR CAMOGIE CLUB The foundations of Colaiste Dun Iascaigh were well and truly tested on Wednesday night last when the play offs and the final of the "C" group indoor tournament took place! The gallery was well packed with supporters and families all in great shouting form and the performances of the four teams taking part did not disappoint. First up were Roisin's Rockets and O' Gorman Girls in the play off for third and fourth position. The Rockets Captain Roisin Costigan was on fire and had her two goals scored in jig time. While the Girls Caral Casey was playing a stormer and retreated to the goal when her quota was reached making fantastic saves and clearances. Caoimhe Hickey of the Rockets was defending the back line with superb confidence and was rewarded with a fine goal in the second half. Captain of the Girls, Eadaoin O Gorman was equally diligent in her work and blasted home a fine goal for her team. Ciara Quinlan played a fantastic game from start to finish and increased the Rockets lead by a further two goals. Kirsty Arbuckle was unlucky not to score for the Rockets but passed the ball around with great intelligence, while the youngest player on the team Dervla Buckley was fantastic. The Girls were unlucky not to go into the lead on many occasions with near misses from the very talented Keeley Halpin. We saw fantastic skill and determination from two very new players to the game Amy Rowe and Katie Farrell. The final score was The Rockets 5 to the Girls 3. The final of the tournament then took place with Referee Maire Casey in control of the game. Harris's Hero's and Joyes Genies both took to the pitch in a confident manner and you could feel from the tension in the air that we were going to be in for a cracker of a game. And we were not disappointed. The extremely talented Ashling Moloney had reached her quota of two goals in quick succession but was soon answered by the Genies genius Roisin Howard. Rachel O Dwyer then blasted a fine goal home from way out the pitch sending the Hero's into the lead. This was followed by super play from Roisin O Donnell of the Genies who did all in her power to bring the ball up out of her back line into the Hero's goal area. Her hard work was rewarded well by a ball which connected with her captain Joye Arbuckle to bring the teams level. Laura Casey and Siobhan Lonergan for the Hero's did their job to perfection while the very young Niamh Murphy must be commended for her calmness on the pitch and excellent clearing ability. Alina Newmerizhitski was also very unlucky not to score for the Genies and Aoife Collins played a fantastic game in the goal area for her team. With full time up we ended with teams on level pegging of 3 goals each. Next step was "sudden death" in that whichever team scored first was the winner. Plenty of encouragement and advice from the crowd in the gallery as well as managers Aoife and Martin brought the tension level up another notch! One minute into the extra time a ball blasted in from the Genies was saved by  Niamh Murphy in goal and following that a ball cleared out by the Hero's Ashling Moloney found her captain Emer Harris who made no mistake in blasting the back of the Genies goal and so landing the title of winners for the Heor's. There was some very disappointed girls from the Genies who had worked so hard over the last few weeks in the PE hall when the game was over. We must always remember that it is only a game and the three letter word that ends with "n" which we should all strive for is not WIN but much more important, FUN. In the A group this weeks players of the week went to Elyisha Cagney and Jessica Coffey while in the B group the accolades went to Emma O Donnell and Emma Quirke. We take a break from indoor camogie now for three weeks and return of Wednesday February 27th with the start of the D group tournament Readers’ news and views are always welcome at 10 Market Yard / 086 840 5020 and at the e-mail address above.  The earlier your information gets to me, the more likely it is to make it onto the page - and if it is short and sweet, so much the better!