CAHIR NOTES Wednesday 25th April FAIR TRADE MEETING Apart from being aware that Fair Trade is "a good thing" and benefits growers and manufacturers in under-privileged countries, my knowledge extends no further.  So I am looking forward to the meeting being held in the Butler Charteris Hall (next to St Paul's Church) on Tuesday 1st May at 7:30pm, where I will learn more. A number of businesses in Cahir already stock or use Fair Trade products and Tipperary Fair Trade is sponsoring the meeting so that more people will be aware of the benefits of Fair Trade.  Of course, our friends in Cahir Farmers' Market are involved, and they are inviting anyone with businesses, such as supermarkets, cafés, shops and canteens, as well as their customers, to attend the meerting.  Perhaps we will be able to ensure that Cahir become a Fair Trade Town.   TODDLE FOR BARNARDOS Once more, the Cahir Mother & Toddler Group is taking part in the Danone Toddle, to raise funds for Barnardos.  This will take place on Thursday morning at 11am, leaving from the Community Hall and going as far as The Heritage.  All are welcome. Last year's event was very successful and I got some great photos, so here's hoping that the sun is out again and they have great fun – as well as raising lots of money. BABY MASSAGE I was amazed to hear from Caroline Fitzgerald that she had no response whatsoever to the piece about the benefits of learning Baby Massage – for both babies and parents.  I just wish I had known about this when my eldest suffered from "3 month colic", poor little thing.  I would have given anything to be able to help her. To hear that sleep patterns, weight gain and much more all benefit from the massage, as well as the parent / child bonding that is enhanced, and then to find that noone showed any interest, completely baffles me. Caroline can be contacted by e-mail on cullnaugh@eircom.net. CAHIR PARK LADIES' SOCCER With the 2007 Season a bout to begin in early May, a number of pre-season friendlies have been played over the last few weeks.  The girls have been training well and it is great to see so many players attending.  The following are some of the results: Sunday 8th April at Glengoole – Cahir Park 0 Glengoole 0 Noelle Fitzgerald was named Player of the Match with a brilliant performance in the back four. Sunday 15th April at Davis Park, Cahir:  Cahir Park 3 Rock Rovers (Carrick)1. Goalscorers Ann O'Brien, Elaine Devereaux and Catriona Nagle. Sinead Tobin was Player of the Match on this occasion, with an impressive performance in the Cahir defence. Sunday 22nd April at Davis Park:  Cahir Park 4 The Commons 2. Goalscorers Alison Lonergan, Clara Fahey, Stephanie Elliott and Ann Marie Noonan. Player of the Match was Clara Fahey, who have a very skilful and energetic display throughout. Anthony Casey, the Manager of Ladrigans Spar, sponsored playing gear for the ladies. The presentation of Jersies was made to Captain Julie McMahon on Sunday morning. A special work of thanks to Joe Hally for his work in obtaining this sponsorsbhip. POST OFFICE TO STAY Cllr Seanie Lonergan wishes to thank all the people who, in the last four years, helped in the fight to save Cahir Post Office. The long and arduous campaign was worth it in the end. It is almost four years since the news broke that we were about to lose the long-established postal service from its present location. Almost fourteen hundred people signed a petition that Cllr Lonergan delivered to the GPO and with that start, wheels were put in motion and a long fight ensued, culminating in Henry Reidy taking over the postal service in the town. We all wish Henry and his staff a long and enjoyable time serving the people of Cahir.   STUDENTS' ARTWORK The Craft Granary in Church Street is presenting "3D, The Mall", a travelling exhibition of aretwork by the students of CTI Senior College, Clonmel.  The exhibition will run for one week, from Tuesday 1st May to 8th May. The work was produced over one year on the College's Art Course. Constructed from a wide variety of materials including plaster, straw and leaves, the work was inspired by a field trip to Doolin and reflects that unique landscape, contrasting it with the more pastoral setting of South Tipperary. Images of trees, stone walls and people capture the historical conversation beween man and nature – a con versation that discusses cultural idlentity and nationality. Opening times at the Craft Granary are from 10:30am to 6pm Mondays to Fridays and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays. NEED AN EXCUSE TO PLAY GOLF? Even if you don't, what better reason could there be than to raise funds for the Cahir Boys' NS.  The Parents' Council and Brendan Horan, the Headmaster, are holding a Golf Classic on Friday 6th July and local businesses will be approached, asking them to sponsor a Tee Box for €50 or a team for €120. All sponsorship is appreciated that will make this a successful day, and the organisers would like to thank their Main Sponsor, Lonergan Hardwar Ltd, for the part the business is playing.  A Tee Box is a great way to advertise your business on the day. SPECIAL OLYMPICS  BENEFIT Over two events sponsored by Cllr Mattie McGrath, one of which was the Table Quizz in The Shamrock Lounge last Friday night,  €800 has been raised for Tipperary Special Olympics. Fundraising for his own election campaign this time, a Golf Classic is being held at the end of this week – Thursday and Friday, at Cahir Park Golf Club. I am looking forward to the Afters! Cllr McGrath would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the organisations in South Tipperary on their successful application for funding under the Programme of Grants announced by Eamon O'Cuiv TD, Minister for Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs. The organisations in the Cahir area that benefitted are:  Ballylooby Community Hall Association - €3,834;  Burncourt Community Council - €3,619;  Cahir Development Business & Training Centre - €8,030. The Councillor, who is a Fianna Fail candidate for South Tipperary in the forlthcoming General Election, again advises all voluntary and community groups to make applications for fudning for community resources under this programme, which is administered by the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs.  Application Forms are available from www.pobail.ie. NEW SHOP OPENING It was good to talk to Helen Grady, one time Manager of the Fruit & Veg Department at Dunne's Stores in Clonmel, who is opening a shop imaginatively called "Fruits & Roots" in Abbey Street on Thursday.  You will find Helen in the premises occupied until recently by the pet shop. Fruits & Roots will be open on Thursday from 9am but the "real" opening day is Saturday, when there will be clowns, face painting and more.Helen hopes to stock plenty of locally grown products where and when possible, and there will be paper bags, not plastic. Best wishes to Helen Grady and Fruits & Roots for a long and successful life in Cahir. USE IT OR LOSE IT! Gaeilge, that is.  If you speak, or what to speak, a little Irish every day, language classes are available. Cúpla Focal and Fáinne badges are also available.  Fón 052 45884 for information. A Lecture on 'John O'Leary – A Centenary Perspective' (1830-1907) gy Denis Marnane, the author of 'Land & Settlement of West Tipperary to 1660' will be held in the Sean Ceard Scoil, Church Street, on Tuesday 22nd May at 8pm. CAHIR & DISTRICT LADIES' CLUB The Ladies have all enjoyed two nights out since they last contacted me.  On Friday 13th April they had a lovely meal at the Galileo Italian Restaurant and on Monday 16th April they all went Bowling.  There proved to be some expert bowlers in the group, particularly Sheila Murnane, who nearly hit into the hundred for her score, and in the other group Anne Cunningham had the highest score. They all had great fun and are looking forward to another night out in May.  Their thanks to Tricia Brunnick for organising two successful nights. The next meeting will take place on Monday 30th April, where €15 deposits will be collected for the Summer outing to the Medieval night at Bunratty Castle. CAHIR DRIVING SCHOOL Another new business opening in Cahir, and very welcome too, has as its mottoe Making Driving Safer, which noone can argue with.  I think Jim Chamberlain, who has settled in Cahir and called to see me on Monday morning, was pretty  bemused at my reaction, because all I could talk about was his beautifull deisgned flyers – which are all his own work too -  obviously a man of many talents.  For further information Jim can be contacted on 086 258 5687, e-mailed at CahirDriving School@gmail.com or you can check out his website on www.cahirdrivingschool.com. Good luck Jim! CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION on Sunday 15th April, forty members of the Association started the Holiday Season with a three-day trip to Wexford, in luxury at Whites Hotel.  After a friendly welcome, the members proceeded to enjoy the many facilities. On Day One they were treated to a coach tour into the beautiful surrounding countryside and a visit to the plendid Johnstown Castle & Gardens. The following day, some members opted to strike out on their own, visiting the local shopping area, while others used the Spa facilities in the hotel. A tour was laid on for members to see the John F Kennedy Memorial Park and enjoy the awe-inspiring views of the coast.  Hook Lighthouse was an experience not to be missed, many members going to the uppermost position and looking out to sea. After a very enjoyable break, everyone returned safe and refreshed, with many happy  recollections and looking foward to the next excursion. A special word of appreciation is expressed to Bob Condon, the hard-working secretary, for his ongoing task in assuring that we all enjoyed the trip.  "Thank You, Bob" from all the members. CAHIR FLOWER & GARDEN CLUB The next Monthly Meeting will be held in the Catherine McAuley Room on Wednesday 25th April (publication day), at 8pm. There will be a Lecture by Mrs Creane on Rush Work;  and a Bring & Buy and Bric-a-Brac Sale, for which all items are welcome except books. Old and new members welcome. CAHIR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOTTO The Jackpot total has now reached €4,300 for the draw that takes place this Wednesday at noon in the Business & Training Centre. Tickets can be bought up to that time from the Centre. The five Luck Dip winners last week, in the draw witnessed by Joan Loughman, were:  Bernie Long, Barnora Crescent;  Kathy O'Brien, Mountain Road;  Noel Browne, Tipperary Road;  Bridgig Conway, Suttonrath;  Norma Martin Hurley, Colaiste Dun Iascaigh, all in Cahir.  They each received €30. All the profits from the Community Lotto go to the Duneske Leisure Complex. "THE SILK ROAD" This is the title of the main Literary Events being held in Lismore for Immrama 2007 from 15th to 17th June.  When I was last in Lismore I put my name down for information on upcoming events, and anyone who is interested in attending some or all of the events organised for the three days should contact Jan A Rotte, Tailor's Cottage, Fernville, Lismore, Co Waterford / jrotte@eircom.net   / www.lismoreimmrama.com. I visited on one day a couple of years ago, for a "reading" and enjoyed every minute. CAHIR GRAVEYARD The following has been sent in to me under the heading "Readers' News & Views" and I am happy to give the topic coverage here, as it seems to me that this problem is symptomatic of the malaise that affects Cahir as a whole. " We ha ve on many occasions approached people with regard to the trees overhanging the graves in the local graveyard. We have laways hit a brick wall, with no satisfactory answers, but it has gone beyond a joke at this stage. "Every year, the graves ha ve to specially cleaned, only the spindles will destroy the graves again with 2 or 3 months and now the limbs of the trees have fallen on graves, with damage being done to headstones. "Surelythe resting place of loved ones deserved some respect and the responsibility to have those trees  cut must lie with somebody.  If anybody has any ideas or solutio ns, they can contact us at verquinn67@hotmail.com and hopefully between us we will be able to do something satisfa ctory once and for all." Signed: A Conway, R Quinn. GOLF CLASSIS FOR GAA The GAA's Golf Classic is taking place this year on 11th May and I am sure that as usual the day will prove most enjoyable, as well as profitable.  The Entry for a team of 4 is €400;  Tee Box Advertising costs 75, which includes having the sign made;  and advertising on the green is the same. DIVE CLUB What with the good weather and all, there has been lots of training dives in the sea (at Helvick), which is necessary to qualify.  Thanks to Mick Burke, who has done a great job. New courses in Nitrox Diving, which is different from normal, resulting in longer, though not deeper, dives, with less tiredness. Members have been trying out their Christmas presents and got in a lot of diving time over Easter, due to the wonderful weather.  A bright and shiny new decompression chamber has been purchased, as the old one was knackered. Anyone intersted in joining the Club should telephone Dermuid Healy on 087 268 6032. DUNE BUGGIES ON THE RIVER BANK On Sunday afternoon the 22nd of April, my son and I were walking along the riverbank from the Castle car park to the Swiss Cottage Bridge.Near the Swiss Cottage Bridge, a small dune buggy whizzed past us driven by a very young teenage boy and girl passenger and headed up the slope towards the car park. We both saw that what they were doing could be dangerous to the walkers and shouted after them but they sped on as fast as the little engine could go up the hill. I should also say that the wheels were very small and could make the vehicle difficult to control at speed. We continued our walk up the hill towards the car park and at a very sharp bend, heard another dune buggy coming down the hill at speed. It careered into the bend and, on seeing us, the driver tried to move as far over the opposite side of the road and as a result lost control and careered into the bushes. Luckily they did not roll and they reversed and continued on to (I presume) terrorise the walkers, some with young children, along the  walkway past the golf course. We continued our walk, picked up our car and drove towards Cahir town only to see the two buggies begin another circuit coming out onto the public road below the soccer pitch and heading towards the Swiss Cottage car park again. We called to the Garda Station on our way home and made a verbal complaint to the Garda on duty. He told us that he had had other complaints but since this was a public place, there was little they could do. I pointed out that they were on the public road and that I was fairly certain that the vehicles were untaxed, and he then said that he would try to get a squad car down to the area if possible. We declined to make a written statement but in hindsight,  I think we should have done so. I personally, felt that these teenagers were creating a public nuisance in a very beautiful walk area, the peace, quiet and friendliness of which I have enjoyed on many occasions. You may have had other communications about these incidents, Maureen, but I feel that this kind of activity should not be allowed in this beautiful place. RECEIVED FROM A LOCAL RESIDENT CAHIR LADIES GAA The Meeting in Cahir House Hotel on Wednesday 18th April regarding arrangements and fundraising for the All Ireland Feile was very well attended by all parents.  From the Clubs previous experience in arranging buses, accommodation, new football gear and other items it is estimated to cost up to €6000 for which the Club has launched a fundraising campaign.  Parents and players are urged to take part in the bucket collection in Thurles on Sunday 29th April 2007.  Parents and players are to meet at Duneske this Sunday at 12:30.  It is important for everyone to play their part in making Feile a great success.   The launch of Cahir GAA Newsletter will be held on Friday, 27th April at 10:00p.m. at the Shamrock Lounge.  Support greatly welcomed on the night. Tipperary U/14 Team were victorious against Waterford on Saturday on a scoreline of 2-9 to 2-3.  The Cahir Girls on the panel were Ruth Cummins, Aishling HIggins, Aishling O'Connor, Clare Harris, Clioinagh Higgins and Orla McEniry.  The Manager is John Cummins.  Best Wishes to Tipperary U/18s in the Munster B Final against Waterford on Saturday in Dungarvan at 5p.m.  From Cahir on the panel are Capt. Edith Carroll, Clara Fahey and Sinead O'Donnell.  Joint Manager is Shane Royane.   U/16's Last Friday night at Cahir GAA Field the U/16's had a comprehensive victory against Moyle Rovers. The team have now qualified for the Semi Finals of the County Championship.  These are to be played in the coming weeks. Tipperary County Intermediate team in the Semi-Final of Division 2 were unlucky not to beat Dublin on last Sunday.  The scoreline was Tipperary 2-5 Dublin 0-14.  Clare Carroll had a teriffic game for Tipperary. The intermediates started their County League campaign last Saturday night at Duneske Field Cahir where they played Upperchurch.  On the night Cahir were the better team and won on a coreline of Cahir 3-10 Upperchurch 1-2.  It was great to see the experienced girls of Stephanie Elliott, Aishling O'Donnell, Capt. Ailish Meehan, Orla Casey, Noreen O'Gorman, Caroline Hosford and Lorraine O'Donnell all playing their part in the teams victory Team:  Nicola Armitage, Catroina Nagle Aoife Casey , Sinead O'Donnell Clara Fahey, Orla Casey, Aishling O'Donnell, Elaine O'Gorman, Freeda Casey, Lorraine O'Donnell  Stephanie Elliott, Caroline Hosford,  Emma Barrett Capt. Ailish Meehan,  Noreen O'Gorman, and Subs:  Jane O'Donnell, Ann Marie O'Gorman, Bronagh Higgins, Geraldine O'Donnell, Mariead Scalleen.   U/12's Scoreline Cahir 3-10 Clonmel Commercials 2-3 Cahir U/12 Girls played their first match in the County Championship  on Monday night.  Cahir got off to a bright start taking a 3 point lead but on the storke of half time Clonmel Commercials got a goal to leave the teams level at half time.  The second half proved just as close and with 10 mins to go there was just 2 points separating the teams in Cahir's favour.  2 quick goals by Cahir proved to be the decisive scores. This was a good display from both teams considering it was their first outing of the season. Cahir are in action again this Monday night against Killenaule.   The Club sends its best wishes for a speedy recovery to Aishling McCarthy who is out at the moment due to injury. CAHIR CAMOGIE CLUB The U14 Championship got off to a great start for the Cahir girls on Wednesday night last. With glorious spring sunshine, the conditions were perfect for their encounter with St. Mary's of Clonmel in a home game.   Under the guidance of Billy Coffey, Sally Casey and Mary Walsh, the girls emerged the comprehensive winners and had accumulated a score of 3-2  in the first half alone. All the panel gave an excellent contribution to the game and reached the final whistle with a score line of Cahir 6-3 to St. Mary's 1-0.   The team and scorers were as follows: Fiona Reece, Ruth Cummins, Emma Corcoran, Avril Hearne, Shauna O Donnell, Donna Casey, Niamh Walsh, Ashling O Connor, Ashling Higgins (1-0) Emma Buckley (1-0), Clionagh Higgins (1gl) Aoife O Gorman (0-3) Kirsty Downey (2-0) Siobhan Heffernan, Jane O Donovan, Rachel Brehony (1-0) for Siobhan Heffernan,  Edel Lenihan for Jane O Donovan.   Training continues for the U14 panel on Sunday mornings at Duneske from 11am while training for the all teams is on Wednesday evenings at 7pm also at Duneske.     Cahir u7 team Back Row - Dylan Fitzgerald, Tiernan McLoughlin, Kieran Lonergan,EoinKelly, David Clifford Front Row - Adam Long, Eoin Heffernan, Adam Lonergan, Nicholas Reidy,Joseph Browne, Mark Casey, Keith Martin   Cahir u 8 team Back Row - Eoin O'Donnell, Noel Long, Patrick O'Donovan, Cavan McKenna,Conor O'Brien, Colin McEniry, Darragh Conway. Front Row- Sean Murphy, Evan Shine, Eoin O'Neill, Derbhla Buckley, MichaelSlattery, Orla Cashman Readers' news and views are always welcome at 10 Market Yard / 086 840 5020 and at the e-mail address above.  I do not handle Small Ads and In Memoria.