CAHIR NOTES WATERFORD TRAWLER TRAGEDIES Tonight - publication day - is the date for the Benefit Night that has been organised to provide aid for the seven families that were bereaved in the tragedies that took place in January. The action kicks off at 9pm with music by Sunset Sounds and a song from a local singer/songwriter that has been dedicated to these families.  Entrance is just €10 and there is a great Raffle, including an authenticated jacket from Daniel O’Donnell. IS YOUR HEALTH AT RISK? There will be a Public Meeting in Cahir House Hotel on Tuesday 20th March at 8pm, at which you may get some answers to this vexed question.  Barrie Trower (UK), who is a Professor of Physics specialising in microwaves, has kindly agreed to come to Cahir, free of charge, to give a talk.  He will inform us all regarding the potentially serious effects that microwaves from ‘phone masts could have on human health. Professor Trower has a Research Degree and also a Teaching Diploma in Human Physiology. He is currently teaching Advanced Physics and Mathematics at South Dartmoor College, in the UK.  He has had many invitations to make presentations to government bodies in the UK over the past few years on this subject. The phone mast on the Clonmel Road in Cahir has the highest number of attachments in the whole County.  An Bord Pleanala has ruled that the equipment added to the mast WITHOUT PLANNING PERMISSION over the past few years is illegal and the ESB, owners of the mast, has now applied to the Council for Retention of this equipment. It is now time for the people of Cahir to stand up and object to their health being put into jeopardy, as is happening right now. Come along on Tuesday evening, 20ty March to Cahir House and you can be assured that you will hear sound, independent advice with no government and no industry spin - and therefore no financial interest. POULMUCKA FIANNA FAIL CUMANN A Meeting of the above Cumann will be held in Moloney’s Bar, Poulmucka on Wednesday 14th March at 9pm.  All members and anyone interested in recent decisions regarding Councillor Mattie McGrath are invited to attend. CAHIR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOTTO The Jackpot has now reached €3,400, and in the draws witnessed by Tom Burke last week, the following numbers came up:  7, 10, 11 and 13.  The five Luck Dip winners, each of whom received €30, were:  Caroline Walsh, Cappawhite;  Marie Murphy, Clogheen;  Elen Hubbard, Beechpark;  Mary Martin, Ballydrehid;  Robbie Martin, Ballinamona. This week’s Draw takes place at noon on Wednesday, and tickets can be purchased up to the last minute from the Business & Training Centre.  All the profits from the Community Lotto go to the Duneske Leisure Centre. OPEN SPECIALLY Sugar ‘n’ Spice, in the Tipperary Road, will be open until 2pm on the St Patrick’s Day Bank Holiday for cakes and breads. ALL WEEKEND FUNDRAISER Robbie Martin, in conjunction with the staff of the Granary Inn, will be holding an All Weekend Fundraiser for M.S. over this St Patrick’s Weekend.  Music, Headshaves, Spot Prizes, the finest food - definitely the place to be for a wonderful cause this weekend, 16th 17th and 18th.    Keeley Tidewell, Susan Foley, Chartered Psysiotherapists with Brendan Horan, Principal Of Cahir Boys National School, with 6th Class pupils at the Boys National School Hayden Murphy meets Gordon Darcy at Prize Day at Readathon in Dublin CAHIR YOUTH CLUB The Club’s Church Gate Collection takes place this weekend, 17th and 18th March. The Club is open for 12- to 18-year-olds on Wednesday nights from 8:30 to 10pm in the Community Hall.  It is hoped that young people will become more involved in the community while having a safe place to go on Wednesdays. REWARD FOR RETURN OF DOG A beautiful golden Labrador dog - a six years old male, has been missing from Knockgraffon since Monday 5th March.  He is probably in the Cahir area, and is sorely missed by five little boys and their parents. Any information would be gratefully received and a reward will be given.  All information to 086 198 820111 / 086 305 1589 / 052 62096, please. CAHIR FARMERS’ MARKET Next Saturday, 17th March, the Marketeers are taking the day off, but they will be back again the following weekend, 24th March. The Fairtrade organisers who attended the Market recently were very pleased to meet the customers and to discuss the benefits that are derived by Irish consumers who buy Fairtrade products.  Please contact Catherine Corcoran at the Tipperary Institute in Thurles for further information. Cheese ... olives ... humus ... sun dried tomatoes ... ice-cream ... and more ...  The Market wants more products and would welcome applications from interested people to operate stalls for these products. Please ask for information at the Market any Saturday - except this one! The Stallholders wish a Happy St Patrick’s Day to all. WHAT’S ON AT DUNESKE? There will be a Public Meeting in Cahir House Hotel on Monday 26th April regarding the next phase in the development of the Leisure Centre, so put this date in your diary and watch this space. All at Duneske Leisure Centre have been watching the amazing transformations achieved over the past few weeks.  The efforts of all in pursuit of wellness and wellbeing have been astounding. The next session of Salsa Classes start on Thursday 29th March at 8pm.  The classes are filling up incredibly quickly, so get your names in now! Hip Hop is starting on Monday 26th March at 8pm and again places are filling up very quickly, so sign up quickly. Salsarobics start at the end  of March.  This will be on Wednesday and Thursday nights at 9pm to begin with and quite a few names have been taken already.  Contact the Leisure Centre if you fancy getting fit, losing weight and all to a tempestuous Latin beat. Easter Egg Hunt. Saturday 7th April, 1pm.  €2 per child and all are welcome. Rugby Camp will run again these Easter holidays, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10th to 12th April from 11am to 2pm.  The Rugby Skills camp was so popular at mid-term they just had to develop is further. Remember, this is open to anyone who wants to learn or improve the skills. €30 for three days and reductions will be given to those with two or more attending. Soccer League will also run for aspiring stars over the Easter holidays:  Friday, Saturday and Sunday 13th to 15th April. It is 6-a-side for U-10s, U-12s, U-14s with a maximum of four subs per team.  The cost is €40 per team or € per individual player.  Application forms are available from Duneske and great trophies and priz are guaranteed. A Boxing Club is starting for kids and teens.  Barry is looking for names now, so sign up and they will get the lessons started. Adult Soccer Blitz. This will take place on Good Friday and is for the grown-ups - 6-a-side with up to four subs.  The Blitz will run from 2 - 6pm on Friday 6th April and will cost 50 per team.  Application forms are available now, so get yourself signed up. The ever-popular All Weather Pitches have some hours available on Monday and Tuesday evenings at 7pm and 8pm on both pitches.  These will not be free for long, so ring if you are interested.  We all know this is a state of the art facility, so make the most of it. For details of all the above, telephone 052 45517. I have received too many communications complimenting the staff at Duneske on the Children’s Parties they organise to include them - and they keep on coming in, so it is obvious everyone is having a fantastic time. CAHIR CAMOGIE CLUB NOTES  The two games in last Wednesday nights tournament brought with it plenty of excitement and excellent stick work. Heffo's Army and the Mighty Mice were first to play and Siobhan Heffernan opened the scoring with a fine goal even though this was soon answered by the Captain of the Mice Sadhbh O Donnell. The two teams were very evenly matched and going into the second half there was only one goal in the difference with the Mice on three goals courtesy of Sadhbh and Rachel O Dwyer and the Army ahead with scores coming from Siobhan and Ashling McCarthy. The second half saw the Army stretch their lead with two fine goals coming from the stick of Claire Kiely and  Fiona Reece who was on excellent defensive form even though she was restricted to using only one hand on the hurley due to injury. The second game was a bit like the clash of the titans with great strength on both teams. Clionagh Higgins was on song and had her quota of two goals reached in the first half for the Conquerors. Downeys Dashers with Rachel Brehony was causing havoc in the Conquerors defence and retreated back to the backs when she scored her two fine goals. Also for the Dashers Marina Conlon was in terrific form and scored twice from out field.Chloe Reilly replied for the Conquerors but alas this was not to be enough as Niamh Keating and Kirsty Downey added to the tally and the Dashers emerged winners. The final games of this tournament will take place on Wednesday March 21st as we have no training on March 14th. Players of the week in the A and B groups went to Caoimhe Egan, Rebecca O Dwyer, Andrea O Donnell and Roisin McCarthy. This year for the first time we are starting a Junior team. So if any of you ladies feel you would like to come along and train with this team, you will be more than welcome. Marie Casey will be in charge and along with the U16 and Minor teams training will commence at Duneske on Saturday March 24th at 11am. U14's are getting in plenty of practice at the All Weather pitch in Dueske on Sunday moorings at 11am and again new members are welcome. A reminder again that membership of €10 is now due and completed registration forms along with the subscription should be given to Jo Burke as soon as possible. CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION The Results of the Progressive 25 Card Game held on Friday 9th March are as follows:  1st, with 13 games - Mary & Ely Whelan;  2nd, with 10 games - Peg Reidy, Kitty Slattery.  The Lucky Table winners were Betty Collins, Mary E Fitzgerald, Tom McGrath and Tom O’Mahoney.  The Raffle was won by Paddy O’Halloran and Josie Quinlan. The next game will be on Friday 16th March at 8pm and all are very welcome at the Catherine McCauley Room. PRESS RELEASE “A “tea-riffic” achievement for Colaiste Dun Iascaigh students, Ann Marie & Edith !!…. “Tea with Robert Schuman” was the title of a recent National Essay Competition and students Ann Marie Casey and Edith Carroll from Colaiste Dun Iascaigh in Cahir took up the challenge to write a 1,500 word dialogue on a possible conversation between one of the founding fathers of the EU with Napoleon, Maggie Thatcher, Mussolini and Bono !!! The South East Ireland Europe Direct Information Centre is delighted to announce that the students, who faced stiff competition in the South East where the most entries were received, are worthy winners in the recent National Essay Competition for Secondary School Students. The National Competition was organised by the Europe Direct Relays and the European Commission Representation in Dublin, in association with An Chomhairle Leabharlanna. Ann Marie and Edith, who will represent the South East along with John Ryan from Abbey Community College in Waterford, and 12 other winners from secondary schools throughout Ireland will take part in an exciting trip to Brussels from 10-12th April where they will visit the Institutions and meet key personalities. The two winning essays are winging their way to Brussels and may be re-produced in future EU publications !!! Well done to Colaiste Dun Iascaigh ! Congratulations to Ann Marie; Edith and their teacher Anne Lohan, who gave both girls great encouragement and support with their essays, on this fantastic achievement as we approach the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome ! Julie O’ Donnell South East Ireland Europe Direct Relay 8th March, 2007. DINNER THEATRE RAISES FUNDS FOR DEFIBRILLATOR IN CAHIR.  "The Year of the Hiker" by John B. Keane was the featured play this year in Cahir Lions Club's Annual Dinner Theatre at Cahir House Hotel, last Friday night. The play was staged by the Fr. Matthew Players (New Inn) to raise funds for the provision of Mobile Defibrillator units in Cahir. In a very professional performance produced by Tom Fitzgerald, on a stage designed and constructed by Paddy O'Connor, Michael Hally & David Hally, the mood of rural Ireland in 1964 was recreated as the Fr. Matthew players cast gave the packed audience an evening to remember. The cast was: Esther Boland, Kieran Heaney, Judith Shortall, Catherine McGrath, Denis Browne, Jimmy O'Farrell and John Ryan.    After the performance Cahir Lions President Jackie Mullen presented a commemorative plaque to the producer Tom Fitzgerald, and thanked the cast and crew for putting on the show at no charge to Cahir Lions, enabling the proceeds to be handed over to the committee raising funds for the provision of mobile defibrillators in Cahir. A presentation of a cheque for €1000 was made to Cllr. Seanie Lonergan for this very worthwhile cause.   The m.c. for the night was Gerry Duffy, who thanked all who had provided sponsorship of the event, and in particular Carol O'Brien, proprioter Cahir House Hotel for providing the venue and excellent meal on the night. He thanked the Fr Matthew Players for their excellent production and also for their attention to detail in constructing the stage and lighting in the hotel ballroom. He outlined that Cahir Lions was going through a difficult time as membership had fallen, and to this end Cahir Lions had organised a special new members night in Cahir House Hotel on Thursday 12th April, further details later.  CAHIR MOTHERS AND TODDLERS This Group meets every Thursday morning from 10:30am to 12:30pm in the Community Hall and all parents, childminders, grandparents are welcomed with babies to pre-school children. Go along and join in the fun.  If you have any queries contact Joanne at 086 178 7524. CAHIR GETS A GARDENER! At last!  Joe Darcy started work in Cahir as a Gardener on Monday 5th March.  He will be working three days a week and will be assisted by the FAS workers when and where necessary.  Joe has trained with Eric Ryan of the Clonmel Corporation. A Plan has been prepared, and as well as this, if readers have ideas for enhancing their own areas, do contact Tim Shanahan at the Business & Training Centre.  It is possible that funding for additional planting can be found, if this will then be taken care of by the residents of the area concerned. TUESDAY NIGHT BRIDGE Results for 22nd February:  North/South - 1st Nancy Downey/Patty Gavin;  2nd Teresa O’Dwyer. Eamonn Murphy.  East/West - 1st Moira Carroll/Mary Kelly;  2nd Ann Corbett/May Geraghty. EXOTIC PRODUCTS NOW AVAILABLE HERE And I’m not talking about Ann Summers, either!  Tony Duggan’s company Gem Meats, who are “Purveyors of Game and Exotic Meats” throughout Ireland, is expanding.  Up to now, they have been supplying hotels and restaurants, but have recently expanded to supermarkets - and I am delighted to say that Tony assures me I can get a pheasant or two from him whenever I want, season permitting . This has been surprisingly difficult, and I love game, so I am delighted. This is the only company in Ireland officially to process fresh exotic meats (ostrich, kangaroo, antelope, crocodile, camel, zebra, bison - and venison, pheasant etc in season) - Licence No IRL 2389 EEC. Tony can be contacted on 086 843 4583. CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL FUN There has been quite a bit of interest in the competition being organised by Cahir Development in aid of the Cahir Christmas Lights.  Basically, for €40 a person or a group of  people get to choose a horse from each of the first four races on each of the four days of the Cheltenham Festival.  Points are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd and the highest points won on any one day are rewarded by a win of  €150.  The highest total over the four days wins €1,000, 2nd - €300 and 3rd - €200.  Each ticket has the numbers of the Cheltenham Hotlines here in Cahir, and each day holders have to phone in their pick before 1pm.  Easy peasy.  And then participants have the thrill of an interest in four races each day. This competition has been run in Clogheen for three years now, and each year the number participating has increased, bringing in a handy amount for the community.  Let’s hope we do as well here! READERS’ NEWS & VIEWS ...are always welcome at 10 Market Yard / 086 840 5020 and at the e-mail address above, and the earlier the better.  Please do not send in Small Ads or In Memoria, which should go direct to the paper.