CAHIR NOTES 17TH MARCH 2010 ST PATRICKS DAY PARADE. Happy St Patricks Day to you all! The St Patricks Day Parade will start at Woodview at 12.30pm and those participating are asked to please assemble in there at least 30-45 minutes beforehand. It will finish in the Square where there will be several displays of arts and crafts along with Irish music and dancing. MC for the day will be Gerry Duffy, for which we are grateful. There are lots of Groups, Clubs and Businesses taking part, which is fantastic and will add to the atmosphere on the day. So get out and enjoy this year’s Parade and thank you to all those who are taking part. CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER. When this paper comes out we will be in the middle of the Cheltenham Festival Fundraiser and I am really looking forward to it. By now you will have bought your tickets and are busy picking your choices for each day and as tickets holders already know, it really is a hard choice with so many good horses, trainers and jockeys to consider. There are points awarded to all those that correctly pick out the horse that wins 1st place (100 points), 2nd place (60 points)or 3rd place (40 points) in each of the 4 races on each day, with a prize of €100 for the person with the highest points daily. At the end of the four day Cheltenham Festival, all the points will be added up and the person/group with the most accumulated points will receive a fantastic first prize of €1,000, the 2nd highest points winner will receive €300 and the 3rd highest points winner will receive €200. Daily winners will be announced after points have been counted and after the last race each day (we will have to close the office door for a short time while we are counting) and all ticket holders will be able to keep up with their progress with daily updates in the windows of the office beside the “Lazy Bean”. So, keep your daily choices coming in and good luck to one and all. RETENTION OF ACUTE HOSPITAL SERVICES IN SOUTH TIPPERARY. It is expected that the report from the reconfiguration group that was set up to examine the services provided at South Tipperary General Hospital will recommend the removal of Maternity and Accident and Emergency services from Clonmel to other hospitals outside of Co Tipperary. Accident and Emergency is a vital service to all people, schools, sporting organizations and all employers in the Cahir area. Maternity deliveries have risen to the thirteen hundred mark and this figure is rising year on year. It is very important that the electorate of the Cahir area send out a clear message to all elected representatives that they will not accept the loss of the acute services in South Tipperary. With this in mind, the Save Our Hospital Committee are calling on everyone in the in the area to attend a Rally on Saturday 27th of March, hopefully this is something for the reconfiguration group to fear. In the interest of our hospital, the people of Cahir must turn out to support this Rally. On Saturday the 27th March, Kevin Brunnick and the committee would like to ask all attending the Rally to assemble on the Western road at 3pm. We are taking up a petition at present and anyone who would like to help in the Cahir area can contact: Save Our Hospital Committee member Kevin Brunnick on (086)3903955. DAFFODIL DAY CAHIR FARMERS MARKETS Daffodil Day 2010 will take place on Friday 26th March. A target of €4million has been set and all the monies raised will go to fund free and direct patient care services for those with cancer and their families. On Saturday 20th March there will a wide range of daffodil day products such as tea towels, mugs, pens and shopping bags on sale at the Farmers Market in Cahir and face painting for one and all. Please come and support this worthy cause. The stallholders at the farmers market would like to congratulate Frances Cowan on winning the voucher for a meal for two at Galileo Italian Restaurant. Don't forget to collect your complimentary bottle of wine at the market on Saturday next Frances. If you enjoy eating quality foods, come and see what the market has to offer for example. delicious savouries and cheeses, a great selection of fish and meats, vegetables ,fruit and juices, buttery cakes and cookies and plenty to cater for those special occasions at home. See you there 9am~1pm on Saturdays, beside the Craft Granary. CAHIR LINK TO ST. PATRICKS DAY IN MONACO. Grace Kelly, later known as Princess Grace of Monaco, was one of the best-known people of Irish descent in the 20th century. She married Prince Rainier III of Monaco on April 18th and 19th, in 1956. Prince Rainier and Princess Grace had three children, Princess Caroline, Prince Albert II and Princess Stephanie. After her marriage she became involved in poetry readings, narrated a number of films, and was active in the arts and charity work. She was also one of the first celebrities to become involved with the La Leche league, promoting breastfeeding. She and Rainier paid a State Visit to Ireland in 1961, visiting the two-room cottage, in Drimurla, County Mayo, where the Princess’s grandfather John Kelly was born in 1857. As is well documented, Princess Grace died tragically young, due to a road accident. However, The Princess Grace foundation continues with charity work on behalf of the Princess. In Monaco, the Princess Grace Irish library was opened by Prince Rainier in 1984, “as a tribute to the attachment that Princess Grace felt for her Irish origins”. The library holds 9000 books, including Princess Grace’s personal collection of Irish books and Irish-American sheet music. Conferences, symposia and film screenings take place at the library, which is open to the public. Each year since 1999, special celebrations have been organised for St. Patrick’s Day. This year there will be a Cahir connection on St Patrick’s Day in Monaco. A concert is organised for the library, where students of the Académie de Musique et de Théâtre, Fondation Prince Rainier III, Conservatoire de la Ville de Monaco will perform Irish classical orchestral music for about 80 guests. As for the Cahir connection? Well, for refreshments, apple juice from The Apple Farm will be served. Con Trass says he is thrilled to have been invited to supply the juice for the guests, who in the past have included Prince Albert II and other members of the royal family. Juice fit for a King, or even for a Prince! Well done Con, I’m not surprised, everyone loves that juice. AFTERNOON TEA DANCING Michael Collins, one of the top attractions on the dancing scene in Munster, will play for another in the highly successful series of afternoon tea dancing at Kilcoran Lodge Hotel, Cahir on this coming Sunday, March 21st from 3.30 to 6pm. The series, which commenced in January, has proven to be a major hit at the hotel which is now under the ownership of Cahir businessman, Donie Keating. Dancers from all over the region are meeting up at Kilcoran Lodge which is ideally situated, just off the M8. Also watch out for Dermot Lyons on Easter Sunday, 4th April. CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION. Fitness classes continue in Duneske Leisure Centre. Sessions take place at 11am each Thursday morning. All members and interested people are welcome to join in this beneficial activity.   Results of 25 card game held on Friday 12th March. 1st place with 10 games Kate Hallinan and Nora Lee. Joint 2nd place with 9 games Tom McGrath, Tom O'Mahony, Maurice Condon, Timmy Fitzgerald, Kieran O'Brien and Red Burke. On the Lucky Table were Ciss O'Neill, Willie O'Donnell and Mary Fitzgerald. Winners of the Raffle were Nora Lee and David White. The next game will take place on Friday 19th March. Cards enthusiasts are most welcome to join us each week in the Catharine McAuley room at Cahir Day Care Centre at 8.00pm.   Sligo is the destination of one of our Irish breaks. We will be touring the area for a few days. If you are interested in our tour and would care to join us, kindly contact the Secretary for details. Outdoor bowling is taking place right now at the Cahir all weather pitch! Sessions are on each Tuesday and Thursday at 2.00 pm.   Information regarding Cahir Active Retirement Association may be obtained by contacting The Secretary on cahiractiveretirement@gmail.com or by phone on 052 74 441892. CAHIR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOTTO. There was no Jackpot winner of draw that took place on the 10th March, 2010. The numbers drawn were 8, 9, 16 and 24. The draw was witnessed by Carmel O’Dwyer. The 5 Lucky Dips winners who each received €30 were; Rosie Murphy, Pearse Street, Cahir, Michael Kehoe, Clonmore North, Cahir, Sharon Cagney, Rosemount Heights, Cahir, Esther Corbett, Market Street, Cahir and Ann Moloney, Abbey Crescent, Cahir. The next draw will take place on Thursday 18th March (as Wednesday 17th March is St Patricks Day) at 12 noon. The Jackpot will then be €2,050. We will take tickets and monies as usual on Tuesday the 16th March but the centre will be closed on the Wednesday. Profit’s servicing community projects in Cahir. CAHIR LIBRARY NEWS. PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION FOR OVER 55’S. Bealtaine are running a photography competition for over 55’s in your local library. The closing date is March 26th. Call in to Cahir library for details or phone 7442075. There will be 3 prizes for the local winners whose photographs will then be entered in county and country wide competitions. The knitting circle has gotten off to a great start. Anyone interested in learning the art or just chatting with others are very welcome to come and join us on Friday mornings at 11am. If you prefer to crochet you are equally welcome. Lessons can be arranged for after school if any school goers are interested. Also if you are interested in playing scrabble, just for fun, please enquire as it is a great way to pass an hour with like-minded people. This is definitely just for fun. NEW PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER FOR CAHIR? It was recently announced in the Irish Times that a new Presbyterian Minister for Cahir and Fermoy will be ordained and installed in Cahir Presbyterian Church on this day week, Saturday 20th March at 2.30pm. This is an historic event, and only the second time it has happened this way (the last time was in 1997). Everyone is welcome to attend. ABBEY TAVERN GOLF SOCIETY We will be holding our first outing on Saturday March 20th at Castlemartyr Golf Club, tee off time 10.30 - 11.30am. All members are asked to be there early. Our weekend away this year is the weekend of May 7th-9th in Ennis, where we will be playing in Woodstock Golf Club and Shandon Golf Club, names are now being taken for this weekend, so get you name in as soon as possible. Thanks to Cahir Cabs for their sponsorship and happy golfing. BENEFIT NIGHT Come and join us for a 60/80’s night in Kilcoran Lodge Hotel on Friday 26th March in aid of Cathriona Barrett. The DJ on the night will be Paul Marsh who is sure to get you in the dancing mood. There will be an auction on the night for a scooter, a signed Tipp Jersey and also 2 Man United Tickets and there will be many other spot prize’s on the night too. Tickets for this event are €10 and are available from Pam on 085 7542675, Brenda on 086 1646595, Margaret on 086 1692041 or Majella on 086 8835974. There will be a separate Raffle for a 5 year old Connemara Pony also on the night. It has been kindly donated by Tiny Tots. Tickets are for this raffle are also €10 and available once again from the ladies mentioned above. We hope to see lots of people on what is sure to be a most entertaining night. See you there. HAITI FUND Well done to the staff of O’Hanlon’s Spar in Cahir who raised and banked €816.00 for the recent disaster in Haiti. Keep up the good work. BRIDGE NOTES Tuesday night Bridge Results 2/3/10 1st place Anne Corbett and Von Coffey. 2nd place Eamon Murphy and John Roycroft. 3rd place Nora Hennessy and Breda Bresnan. COLAISTE SUPPORTING CRUMLIN HOSPITAL A cheque for €4,000 was presented by staff and former staff to Paul Butler, accepting on behalf of Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, last Tuesday. The money was raised from donations prior to the staff Christmas party with a difference in December last. The traditional fare of previous years was put aside as over 50 staff and former staff members attended a party to remember. All costs were sponsored and venue and music were provided free of charge, meaning that all staff donations went directly to Crumlin Hospital. Special thanks are due to those who provided the venue and music and also to SuperValu Cahir, Emma loves 2 eat and Ned Grant (Builder) for their contributions to the cause. The €4,000 will to go towards the development of a specialist teenage cancer unit in the hospital. SHAVE OR DYE The recent ‘Shave or Dye’ campaign in the Colaiste has raised the fantastic total of €4,644.69 for the Irish Cancer Society. Many thanks to the organizers and all who contributed in any way. The money will be presented to the society in the coming weeks. KEEP IT GREEN The Green Flag Committee in Colaiste Dun Iascaigh has been putting in huge effort to instill the value of care for the environment as they work towards achieving Green Flag status for the Colaiste for the first time. The efforts are certainly bearing fruit. The recycling scheme was started in the Colaiste last November, at which stage 2024kg of waste per month was being sent to landfill. This was reduced by two thirds to 782kg during November. The amount going to recycling was increased from 486kg to 999kg. So keep up the good work! CAHIR BOYS NATIONAL SCHOOL.? SOUTH TIPPERARY CO. COUNCIL HERITAGE PROJECT—”MY PLACE” This year, 6th class engaged in a project on the War Memorial on Castle Street in Cahir. This opened up the history of World War 1 and the involvement of Cahir people. Paul Buckley, who has published 2 photographic books on Cahir, encouraged them to explore around the topic and led to an enormous class project including English Reading, War Poetry, Creative Writing, Geography, History & Art. Their class teacher, Nora Lawrence, Language Support Teacher, PJ O’Meara, SNAs, Anne Cunningham, Elaine Cowan & Barbara Fitzgerald assisted the pupils in creating models, collecting information and presenting the project. This work is on display in the County Museum in Clonmel and we invite all pupils and parents to go in and view it and also the work of other participants from schools in South Tipperary. On Wednesday, March 10th, 6th class attended the prize-giving ceremony in the County Museum. Their project came in joint 1st in the 6th class category. CALENDAR Easter Holidays—Monday, March 29th to Friday April 9th 2010. First Communion – Saturday – May 8th 2010 (please note date) Bank Holidays—Monday, May 3rd and Monday June 7th. U-13 HURLING BLITZ On a bright Tuesday morning, 9th March, Cahir BNS headed to Clerihan for a 9-a-side hurling blitz against Ballylooby, Grange and Thomastown Primary Schools. In the first game Cahir defeated Ballylooby in a tough, competitive game, 2-8 to 3-2. In the second match Cahir played Thomastown NS and gave a little more leeway with a final score of 1-5 to 0-1. Particularly fine performances from Daragh Howard, Conor Cashman, Rares Stoica and Dylan Walsh gave Cahir the platform to control the game. Our final match, against Grange NS was a much tighter affair with a final score of 2-1 to 2-0. Eric Coleman, on goal, had a busy time but was well able to handle what came at him. The standard of hurling was high throughout and players improved during the games, particularly Keelan Looby, Conor Brennan, Stephen Foran and Dean Cashman. As Cahir were undefeated throughout the Blitz they were the worthy winners. Other players who hurled to their best throughout were Jack Malone, Seán O'Brien, Tommy Allen and Leigh Devereaux. We would like to thank to John Cummins, Games Development Officer for the GAA, for organising the competition, well done to all the teams and congratulations to all the boys. POULMUCKA SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB The Poulmucka Sports and Social Club tackled Slievenamon last Sunday. As the PRO notes in last week’s paper said that we would climb from Kilcash instead of Kilusty, we did and it proved more difficult. However, the team made it from Kilcash over the top and finished in Kilusty. As there still seems to be interest in the walking at the moment, a group will meet next Sunday 21st at 12.30 sharp to head for the Nire. This trip will be about 2 hours in total with the first 10 minutes the worst of the climb. Once again all are welcome. There will be a meeting on Thursday 1st April at 9pm in Moloneys Bar, Poulmucka to discuss the annual May 5 mile Road Race. It is important that as many as possible attend this meeting as we need to organize Stewards, Refreshments and Prizes. If there is anyone who has participated in the walks during the year and are available to steward a water station or a road junction we would be delighted to have their help. Please send a text with your name to 086-3609110 if you are not able to make the meeting but can help on the evening. This race is fixed for May 21st at 7.30. Please note that deposits are still been accepted for the Trip to Scarborough (8th-11th October) and can be handed into Moloneys Bar or to Tom Walsh (Treasurer). LOST ITEMS A lady from Cahir has asked me to mention that she has lost a pair of glasses that were still in the box, on the Square in Cahir on Friday 19th February. If you have found them please call 086 274 1924. A blue remote control helicopter was also lost in Cahir last week. It was caught by a strong wind that caused it to crash land and unfortunately it could not be found. But if you have found it please give me a call. NEWCASTLE VINTAGE CLUB. The Club will hold the annual Tractor Road Run on Sunday 21st March. All proceeds go to The Women’s Refuge. They will meet at Nugent’s at 10am and leave at 11am. The Entry fee is €20 per tractor. All tractors welcome. For more details please call 086 8984511. CONGRATULATIONS. Best wishes for the future go to Franchesca Sutherland who opened her own shop called 2Eurocentral in the Square in Dungarvan 3 weeks ago. Well done to you, with love from your family and many friends. READERS NEWS AND VIEWS. If you have any news, views or notes for the Cahir page, you can contact me on 086 1022014 or email me on caplicetaylor@hotmail.com. By Sunday at the latest please, as that is when I write the notes. Thank you.