Cahir Notes for 25th January, 2012 CAHIR TIDY TOWNS The Cahir Tidy Towns Group will hold a quiz on February 24th in the Shamrock Lounge, Cahir and not on 24th January as reported last week, my apologies to anyone who was making provisions for that date. Don’t forget, a table of 4 is €20 and that entitles the table to a free pre filled hanging basket. This is an effort to promote colour in the town this summer and the offer is open to all residents and businesses. Extra baskets can be ordered through Tidy Towns for €20(basket included). The group have been out already litter picking and weeding recently and our Abbey Street member was busy hanging the gate in the Abbey Graveyard. Activity seems to have died down a little in this area where it was rampant with drinking parties only 12 months ago. We badly need to get some top soil for some beds such as Woodview and the Dovecote and also need to touch up the mountain road beds. We have applied to the council for assistance with the rebuilding of parts of the wall in the Abbey Cemetery and also for some moderations to the Sensory Garden wall. These will be included in this year’s entry form. So, is there anyone who can donate some top soil to the cause? It will be much appreciated. Meanwhile, don’t forget about the Tidy Town’s Quiz that will take place on the 24th February.  More details on this page. Please enter a team and spread the message to your friends. This is a non profit event aimed at promoting colour in the Town for the 2012 judging. SENIOR CITIZENS PARTY As usual the Annual Senior Citizens Party was a great success with over 250 people attending. There were people there from not only Cahir but all the surrounding areas and transport for those that needed it was also provided. This event is always very well organised by Cahir Garda District and several other Groups. Independent TD, Mattie McGrath, with Mary Ashby who won a Hamper donated by Dolan's SuperValu and Supt. Tom Duggan at Senior Citizens Party last Friday.  I can only say that there was a fantastic variety of entertainment on the night. There was comedy with ‘The Bachelor Brothers’, singing from the Coláiste Dún Iascaigh School Choir, dancers from the Micheal Ryan School of Dancing in Ardfinnan and of course the usual  excellent musical entertainment to name but a few. Back L-R. Gda. Denis Stack, Maurice Quinlan, Gda. Áine Carey, Sgt.  Carol O'Leary, John Walsh & Bridget Burke of Cahir Red Cross. Front L-R. Brian Lafford, Red Cross, Sgt. Lorraine Treacy, Jim O'Donnell, Tony Duggan & John Murphy of Cahir Fire Service at the Senior Citizen’s Party last Friday. Present to help on the night were; Transition Year Students, Cahir Red Cross, Cahir Scouts Group, Cahir Fire Service and a full complement of Cahir Garda. Credit must be given to all involved along with Cahir House Hotel who always accommodates everyone so well. Well done to all. Full report next week. CAHIR ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION The results of "25" card game that took place on Friday 20th January, 2012 in the Parish Rooms, Cahir. 1st with 11 games were Ann Hanrahan, Maureen Maher. Second with 10 games were Tom Breedy, Tom O’Dwyer, Peg Reidy and Agnes Hyland. On the Lucky Table were Maurice Condon, Tim Fitzgerald, Kieran O’Brien and John Callaghan. Raffle results; John Whelan, Ciss O’Neill. The next game will take place on Friday 27th January. All are very welcome to join our friendly gathering. Our annual Social will take place at Cahir House Hotel on Wednesday 15th February at 2 p.m. 4 Course Dinner and Music, Dancing and spot prize’s on the day. All members and guest are very welcome to join in and enjoy the occasion. Our monthly meetings take place on the first Wednesday of each month, visitors and prospective members are welcome. Information regarding Cahir Active Retirement Association may be obtained by contacting The Secretary at cahiractiveretirement@gmail.com or by phone on 052 74 41892. CAHIR COMMUNITY LOTTO There was no Jackpot winner of the draw that took place on Wednesday 18th January, 2012. The numbers drawn were 5, 14, 21 and 29.The draw was witnessed by Nellie Burke. There were 6 Match 3 winners each winning €33 and they were; John Murphy, Townspark, Cahir, Caroline, Noel & Brendan, c/o Punters Rest, Cahir, Mary Crowe, 3 Sommerville, Cahir, Michael O Neill, c/o Moloney’s Poulmucka, Clonmel, Loren Ward, Clonmore, Cahir and Jenna Carroll, Bridge St, Cahir. The next draw will take place on 25th January, 2012 at 12 noon. The Jackpot will then be €6,400. Tickets are available in local shops and also at the Enterprise Centre. The Community Lotto supports Duneske Leisure Centre, the Christmas Lights, The Sensory Garden, Care Bears Childcare, The Enterprise Centre and other Funded Community groups and Projects in Cahir. PILGRIMAGE TO HOLYLAND A Holy Land Pilgrimage will take place from 11th to 24th June, 2012. Maureen Ahern will once again lead this very popular Pilgrimage. If you missed last year's trip, you can now join this group for your journey of a lifetime. We will visit Bethlehem, Ein Karem - village of the Visitation, Nazareth, Cana, then to the Sea of Galilee for Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Mount Tabor, Jordan River. Our final six nights are within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, when we will visit the room of the Last Supper; Gethsemane; the Lithostrotos where Jesus was scourged and condemned; then Calvary and the Holy Tomb. We end our stay in the Holy Land with a day trip to Masada and the Dead Sea for fun in the black mud. This journey in the Holy Land is full of interest and contrasts. It covers ancient history, including stories of Moses, Abraham, Jericho, many epic battles of the Old Testament, and those of the Crusaders. We visit places of the Bible, held precious since childhood, and experience the ever changing landscape of Israel, from desert to lush tropical Galilee. We see Roman archaeology and sample life where East meets West, with the Muslim call to prayer all day. Best of all, we get a Spiritual experience of a lifetime. Having two weeks allows enough time to savour it all. Careful planning and years of experience are evident in this itinerary.  Accommodation is Partial Board. The cost is €1,765 per person sharing; Single room €299 extra. A private bus can be available from Clonmel, with stops in Cahir, Cashel, Thurles, and Portlaoise en route to Dublin Airport as required. Spiritual Director will be Fr. Seamus Humphreys of the Augustinian Friary in Dungarvan. Contact Maureen Ahern 087 2319639  without delay, to secure your place. My much loved father, Frank Caplice (R.I.P.) once took this Pilgrimage, his experiences there carried him spiritually through his final years and he sure loved to talk about them! One day I hope to travel myself. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity, call Maureen and book your place. ANTENATAL / POSTNATAL PILATES Antenatal and Postnatal Pilates will begin at Cahir Physiotherapy Clinic in February on Thursdays at 7pm. Please phone 052-7445477 to book your place. The classes are designed and led by a Chartered Physiotherapist, Karen Coughlan MISCP BSc Physiotherapy MPhysio (Sports) who has a practice in the Craft Granary Building on Church Street in Cahir.  Please call 052 7445477 or visit www.cahirphysiotherapy.com for more details or to book your place. COLÁISTE DÚN IASCAIGH UPDATE A large crowd of students, parents/guardians and staff turned out at Coláiste Dún Iascaigh on Friday night last to honour students’ academic achievements in the past school year.   Awards were presented to the students who secured the best overall results in their year groups, in each class and to the students who secured the best results in each subject.  Students from the Leaving Cert class of 2011 were particularly welcomed back to the Coláiste.  This year saw the launch of a new award in the Coláiste – the Díograis award.  This award celebrates such positive characteristics as endeavor, diligence, and work rate and seeks to recognize students who are a shining example to their peers.   Guest speakers on the night were Emma and Linda Williams, past pupils of the Coláiste.  Both have continued their academic careers to the highest level.  Emma is now completing a PhD thesis in music, while Linda is doing her PhD on cancer biology.  Both advised the students to avail of every opportunity, and to continue to work hard.  Principal, Mrs. Finnegan-Burke and B.O.M. Chairman, Mr. Liam Ahearne both thanked the girls for attending the ceremony, congratulated them on their fantastic achievements to date and wished them well on what will undoubtedly be outstanding careers. As part of the AIB ‘Build a Bank’ competition, a team of Transition Year students launched “The Budding Bank” in Coláiste Dún Iascaigh on Tuesday last.  The launch was attended by the team of 6 students selected following interviews to run the bank, the local back Student Officer, Sarah Jane Curran, Coláiste Principal, Mrs. Mary Finnegan-Burke and invited staff and students. Guest of honour at the launch was Tipperary’s two-time All-Ireland hurling winning goalkeeper and winner of 5 All-Star awards, Brendan Cummins.  The Budding Bank will now open in the Coláiste every Tuesday at lunchtime from 12.55pm.  Students are encouraged to avail of the services on offer, including phone top-up services, opening accounts for new customers, lodgement services, internet banking and bank link cards.  There will also be various incentives to promote savings throughout the year, and lodgements whether big or small will be accepted and lodged by the staff.  The first promotion will be a raffle among those who are customers of the bank by February 1st, with prizes including a signed Tipperary jersey, kindly donated by Brendan Cummins. The Coláiste would like to remind parents of Fifth year students that the Parent-Teacher meeting will take place in the Coláiste on this Wednesday evening, the 25th January. APPPLICATIONS FOR OUR LADY OF MERCY PRIMARY SCHOOL Our Lady of Mercy Primary School in Cahir has informed me that Application Forms for September 2012 are now available for prospective students. Please Contact Michelle 052 7441950 for same. TAI CHI & MEDITATION CLASSES FOR JANUARY/FEBRUARY Tai Chi classes will take place from now on in Cashel on Monday’s, Tuesday’s in Clonmel and Wednesday’s in Thurles. In these classes we practice both Chi Kung to build up our strength and Tai Chi which is a flowing meditative movement. For more details please contact Carmel on 087 2373343 .      Meditation classes will take place from now on in Cashel on Monday’s and Rathkeevin on Tuesday’s. The Meditations are inspired by the mystic, St. Teresa of Avila. The Meditation is a healing one with a guided visualization followed by a time of silence. Once again, please contact Carmel on 087 2373343 for more details. AN EVENING WITH MARK RYLANDS Ardfinnan Community Council is delighted to announce that Goatenbridge based geographer, Mark Rylands will give a guest talk on Friday, February 3rd at 8.pm in Ardfinnan Community Centre. Mark's talk will address a number of interrelated themes including field boundaries, place names and hedgerows from a south Tipperary perspective. The talk will be based on Mark's extensive research conducted during his time as a Tutor with UCC's Department of Geography. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. All are welcome to attend.   READERS NEWS & VIEWS If you have any news or views or photos for the Cahir page please contact Maria Taylor either by email at caplicetaylor@hotmail.com or by phone on 086 1022014 by Sunday, 6pm at the latest please. The Cahir Notes are available on cahirnews@cahirda.com and there is also a link to them on www.visitcahir.ie by kind permission of South Tipp Today and also on www.southtipptoday.ie.