CAHIR NOTES Wednesday 23rd May MANY CONGRATULATIONS ... ...to Hilary and Arthur Carter, who wish to thank all those who supported the Cake Sale on Sunday 13th May at their home.  Apart from poor weather, it was a very successful day, raising over €1,700. BINGO GIVES SOMETHING BACK Cahir Community Bingo presented a cheque for €500 to the South Tipperary Hospice at the Tractor Run in Ardfinnan on Sunday. Bingo in Cahir is run by volunteers and all money raised goes into running Bingo, and anythying more goes back into the community, with which everyone is delighted. Thanks to all their regular supporters for making this happen.  Bingo goes on every Tuesday in the Castle Court Hotel at 8:30pm, where, of course, all are welcome.   FUNDING RECEIVED BY B&TC Once again, the Cahir Development Business & Training Centre has successfully applied for funding to the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs for computer training, under the following categories:  Living in a rural community;  unemployed;  house parent. They are now delighted to offer the following courses for €20 each:  Beginner – 3 hours one night or day per week for 8 weeks;  Beginner Plus – 3 hours one night or day per week for 8 weeks. These courses would normally cost €200 and places are limited, so if you are interested, please contact them as quickly as possible for the full details and to secure your seat.   052 43224 or 052 42616, HOSPICE TRACTOR RALLY Ardfinnan 20th May 07 by Bob Bramham Real hot, sun quite dry, warm breeze Hundreds of entrants there Some old and rusty others spar new Some thrived with loving care The Queen of the Park the Stream Traction Engine Made a hundred years ago By the Leeds Engineering Traction Company But her speed is rather slow   Still able to work but retired now By the boy in his care Fourth generation to look after her Lives down there in Kenmare The Rocking Tractor and the Bring and Buy No other attractions came Chicken and chips from over the road Everything else the same A few collected the rubbish thrown down Two kids threw a tractor in the river Only small it floated well, hollow plastic, red and yellow If they fell in they’d surely shiver Hospice felt it a huge success. Thanked everybody who donated Especially the One who left such lovely weather for us The whole crowd was surely elated CHURCH GATE COLLECTION The annual Church Gate Collection for Cahir Camogie Club will be taken up at all Masses over next weekend, 26th and 27th May.  Once more, the Committee appeals to the generosity of all to help fund their Club.  With a membership of well over 80, it takes quite a bit of finance to keep the Club going during the year. Training takes place for the u-8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and Junior teams with the u-14 team training on Sunday mornings from 11am.  Much time and effort goes in, on behalf of all the Managers and helpers, to keep these teams going, so the support they get from the public is very important.   CAHIR & DISTRICT LADIES’ CLUB The ladies are going bowling on Monday 28th May, meeting at the hall at 7:50pm to organise lifts. WHAT’S ON AT DUNESKE? Soccer League is buzzing with some seriously good games going on.  The present league is full, but they will be running another in June, so watch this space. Tag League posters have gone up, so register now or be sorry all summer! Get signed up now on your own or with a team!  It is a superb way of meeting new people, improving the social life and getting really fit all the time. Teddy Bears’ Picnic has started with style, running every Saturday 1-2pm in Duneske for agess from 3 to 6 years old.  It is quite the social scene for the active child! Stories, arts and crafts, games and a rather nice tea party finish off. €4 per child, and don’t forget Teddy! Their Festival Weekend has been set for 7th and 8th June to celebrate the start of school holidays in style! Watch out for flyers on this crazy weekend. Summer Camp dates are also av ailable now from Duneske – contact Amanda and Mark for more details. Tennis Membership is now available in Duneske for the summer.  There are individual adult 3-month prices as well as for kids and students and they even have a  brilliant family package to allow you to play all summer without hassle. Private Tennis Lessons will be starting again soon, with their new Instructor Mary.  There will be a Tennis Camp running in early July so phone or call in for details. Boxing has been changed to 6pm every Tuesday evening and Martin Fennessey, from Clonmel Boxing Club, is warmly welcomed.  He will be helping out over the summer.  Places are very, very limited so you will need to ring to check availability. Summer Body Boot Camp  will be starting in Duneske next Monday night.  This is the perfect way to blast your body into shape for the summer.  It will run from 7 to 7:45pm every week, so get signed up now! For details of any or all of the above, telephone Duneske on 052 45517. CITIZENS’ INFORMATION CENTRE The confidential service provided by the CIS is available in Cahir every Wednesday from 10:30am to 12:30pm in the local County Council Offices.  You can telephone 052 41322. The Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) provides specialist services on the third Thursday of each month from 7:30 to 9pm.  This is by appointment only.   CAHIR FLOWER & GARDEN CLUB The Club’s monthly meeting is being held in the Catherine McAuley Room on Wednesday 30th May at 8pm. Our own local (and VERY good) Advanced Flower Arrangers will be giving demonstrations:  Claire Feeney, Mary Johannes and Mairead Moloney. Details of the Competitions are as follows:  Beginners: “Peaches & Cream”, a bowl of flowers, size open;  Intermediate:  “A Hint of Summer”, an arrangement for a hall table 62cm (25”);  Advanced:  “A Summer Feast”, size 80cm (30”).  Fruit can be used in this design. The Club’s outing to Áras a nUachtaráin and Farmleigh House and the Botanic Gardens is on Saturday 30th June, cost €50.  A non-refundable deposit of €20 is required, and booking can be made to Mary at 052 41467 or Margaret at 052 62105.  All monies are to be paid at the meeting on 30th. CLLR WELCOMES WEEKLY INCREASE IN RENT ALLOWANCES Cllr Mattie McGrath, Chair of Caslean Nua Voluntary Housing Association and Regional Representative of the Irish Council for Social Housing, has welcomed the Department of Social & Family Affairs’ recent decision to increase rent allowance by 5 per week for voluntary housing association tenants.  There are currently numerous such associations in South Tipperary in Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary, Cashel and Fethard, to name but a few. Housing associations provide housing to various vulnerable groups such as older people, low-income families, people with disabilities and the homeless. “I have been looking for this increase in rent allowance for some time and this will be a great benefit to housing association tenants. It is a great credit to these associations in South Tipperary, working in the community for the benefit of the community and housing the most needy”. Cllr McGrath indicated that work he has been involved in at national level with the Irish Council for Social Housing, shows that what can be achieved collectively at national level can have an impact at local level. Mattie McGrath, as the elected srepresentative of the Irish Council for Social Housing to the National Social Housing Federation, since 2005, has campaigned on a number of issues such as the need for more revenue funding for sheltered housing as well as the need for more state land to build social housing. CAHIR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOTTO The Jackpot total is now €4,900 and you can buy a ticket up to noon on Wednesday from the Business & Training Centre.  The numbers that came up last week, witnessed by Peter Fahy, were:  4, 27, 21 and 22.  The five Lucky Dip winners, each of whom received €30, were:  Patrick Caplicle, Church Street; John & Eleanor Connolly, Ballyea;  Kathleen Moloney, c/o B&TC;  Jo Lonergan, Rosemount View and Billy Wall, Mountain Road, all in Cahir. All the profits frosm the Community Lotto go to the Duneske Leisure Complex. CAHIR BOYS’ NS This week, the School received permission from the Department of Education & Science to advertise for and employ two teachers for the next school year. This means that 1st Class will be split into two class groups. The extra teaching jobs are dependent on their numbers next 30tb September.  If the school does not achieve 183 pupils, the jobs will be removed, as they are concessionary posts. Parents are, therefore, asked to enrol pupils to allow the school to make plans for next year.  If you have queries, please make an appointment to meet the Principal, Brenda Horan, in the school.  Appointments should be made outside of teaching time, typically after 3pm. GREAT WEBSITES A friend has given me the following websites, which are well worth viewing if you are a lover of the Greek Islands:  www.mykon.net/mtest/index.php.  They are two hours ahead of us, but operate 24/7; www.santorini.net/130.html which is vest viewed in the morning; and www.santorini.info/webcam/  This site gives you three differents view of the crater the Caldera, and you can watch the ships at anchor.  It is ALMOST as good as being on holiday. Last but by no means least is the Mooney Goes Wild site on which you can follow the hatching and rearing of Blue Tits (although sometimes I have difficulty logging on – perhaps because it is so popular). www.rte.ie/radio/mooneygoeswild/features/mooneycam/index.html.  Happy viewing, and thanks, Frank. CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION The results of the 25 Card Game held on Friday 18th May at the Catherine McAuley Room are as follows: 1st, with 11 games – Tom Morrissey.  2nd with 9 games – Chi Chi Caplice & Sadie Caplice;  Josie Quinlan & Joe Ahern;  Paddy O’Sullivan & Rupert Quiry;  David White & Willie O’Neill.  The Luck Table winners were Brigid Condon & Mary English (Barnora) and Keiran O’Brien & Red Burke.  The Raffle was won by Kitty Slattery and Joe Ahern. The next game will be held on Friday 25th May and all are welcome.  Enquiries can be made to 052 41892. SOME THOUGHTS Change is inevitable, except from vending machines. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments. When everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane. What happens if you get scared half to death, twice? Readers’ news & views are welcome, as always, at 10 Market Yard / 086 840 5020 and at the e-mail address above.  Many thanks to all those who manage to get their information to me in good time.